Future innovation and research in dental restorative materials.

Abstract

lifetime superiority over currently available Bis-GMA/TEGDMA-based systems (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/ RFA-DE-13-001.html). Together, these challenges prompted the International Association for Dental Research (IADR), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), the FDI World Dental Federation (FDI), and King’s College London Dental Institute to sponsor a joint workshop in December 2012 to explore innovations in dental materials, with particular emphasis on direct restorative materials. It is recognized, however, that the availability and acceptance of new materials depend on factors far broader than their properties alone. Consequently, we engaged a dynamic group of experts to address the full scope of hurdles to design, produce, approve, and utilize any new but especially innovative materials. These experts were drawn from both dental and non-dental academic institutions, and industry, along with those from policy, research funding, and professional organizations. The presentations were thought provoking and the discussion lively. This issue of Advances in Dental Research offers highlights and summaries of the conversations in the following sessions: