Abstract
The clinical lifespan of traditional resin-based dental restorations remains limited to 6–10 years, primarily due to mechanical fatigue, secondary caries, and interfacial degradation, necessitating frequent replacements that compromise tooth structure and generate substantial environmental waste. This comprehensive review traces the evolutionary trajectory of bioinspired self-healing dental biomaterials from their conceptual origins in polymer science (2001) to contemporary multifunctional systems integrating antimicrobial, remineralizing, and AI-assisted properties. A comprehensive narrative review of scientific literature and patents published in leading global databases (Medline, PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect) between 2001 and 2025 was conducted. Extrinsic (microcapsule-based) and intrinsic (dynamic covalent network) healing mechanisms were critically examined. Recent breakthroughs have achieved 65–90% fracture toughness recovery in experimental composites. The integration of silver nanoparticles, quaternary ammonium compounds, and calcium phosphate fillers has enabled simultaneous mechanical repair, antibacterial defense (four-log reduction in Streptococcus mutans biofilm), and biomineralization. These innovations align with the four pillars of Green Dentistry: pollution prevention, water conservation, energy efficiency, and waste reduction by potentially halving procedural resource consumption. The transition from passive to active therapeutic biomaterials represents an essential paradigm shift for achieving both clinical excellence and environmental sustainability in modern restorative dentistry. Despite promising laboratory outcomes, challenges persist regarding production costs, catalyst biocompatibility, and regulatory standardization.