Biomaterial-based oral repair membranes: current advances, functional attributes, and future directions

Oral repair membranes, as biomaterials specifically engineered for the oral environment, demonstrate considerable promise for treating prevalent oral conditions such as pulpitis, tooth loss, oral mucosal defects and periodontal disease. These conditions inflict not only pain and functional impairment on patients but also impose substantial socioeconomic burdens. By providing a protective barrier over damaged oral tissues, these membranes facilitate a conducive environment for regeneration, thereby aiding the recovery of morphological and functional integrity. However, existing reviews have predominantly concentrated on periodontal barrier membranes, leaving the systematic summarization of repair strategies for the dental pulp and oral mucosa significantly underrepresented thus far. Although recent reviews have enhanced understanding in these two application areas, this paper provides a systematic overview. This review article meticulously examines the composition, functional characteristics, and clinical applications of various materials used for the regeneration of periodontal tissues, pulp, and oral mucosa.