DOI: 10.36347/sjds.2018.v05i03.006

Pages: 143-148

As of now, there has been no single material in dentistry that fulfills all the requirements of an ideal material. As the quest for an "ideal restorative material" continues, a newer generation of materials was introduced. These are termed as "smart'' as these materials support the remaining tooth structure to the extent that more conservative cavity preparation can be carried out. These materials may be altered in a controlled fashion by stimulus such as stress, temperature, moisture, pH, electric or magnetic field. The use of smart materials has revolutionized dentistry which includes the use of restorative materials such as smart composites, smart ceramics, compomers, resin modified glass ionomer, amorphous calcium phosphate releasing pit and fissure sealants, etc. and other materials such as orthodontic shape memory alloys, smart impression material, smart suture, smart burs, etc. This paper attempts to highlight some of the currently available “smart materials” in paediatric dentistry to achieve maximum advantage by conventional restorative techniques.