Hydrogels in Alveolar Bone Regeneration

Alveolar bone defects caused by oral trauma, alveolar fenestration, periodontal disease, and congenital malformations can severely affect oral function and facial aesthetics. Despite the successful clinical applications of bone grafts or bone substitutes, optimal alveolar bone regeneration continues to be challenging due to the complex oral environment and its unique physiological functions. Hydrogels that serve as promising candidates for tissue regeneration are under development to meet the specific needs for increased bone regeneration capacity and improved operational efficiency in alveolar bone repair. In this review, we emphasize the considerations in hydrogel design for alveolar bone regeneration and summarize the latest applications of hydrogels in prevalent clinical diseases related to alveolar bone defects. The future perspectives and challenges for the application of hydrogels in the field of alveolar bone regeneration are also discussed. Deepening our understanding of these biomaterials will facilitate the advent of novel inventions to improve the outcome of alveolar bone tissue regeneration.