Smart dental biomaterials may be a more effective approach against dental infections compared to traditional treatments, according to a review recently published in the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. However, more research is needed to improve the potential of biomaterials, which combine antimicrobial, biofilm-disrupting, and regenerative functions, the authors wrote. For this review, researchers examined the development and use of biomaterials for treating bacterial dental infections, with an emphasis on preventing biofilm formation and improving antimicrobial effectiveness. While most caries materials are tested mainly against S. mutans, caries formation results from complex interactions among multiple microorganisms, with S. mutans and C. albicans working together to worsen disease progression. “With the increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens and biofilm-associated infections, biomaterials offer innovative solutions by integrating antimicrobial, biofilm-disrupting, and regenerative properties,” they wrote.