Given the surging demand for polymer materials that offer exceptional osteoconductivity, osteostimulativity, degradability, and mechanical strength, the global bioglass fiber market is expected to witness stellar growth in the forthcoming years.
 

Bioglass fibers are mostly accredited as surface-reactive biomaterials and have gained traction in various biomedical applications such as orthopedic and dental. Dentistry, especially, has seen some revolutionary changes in recent years, powered by rapid technological breakthroughs and the rising adoption of biomaterials that can successfully replace injured or infected tissues.
 

Bioglass can bond with both soft and hard body tissues without rejection and is also more biocompatible with human tissues as compared to bioceramics. Upon planting into the body, the material strengthens the bonding between soft and hard tissues, further promoting the formation of dense hydroxyapatite (HA) on the surface. This process enables bioglass fiber to rapidly combine with bone tissue for inducing as well as accelerating bone growth.
 

Surging healthcare expenditure and the growing geriatric population are also stimulating the overall industry outlook. According to National Health Expenditure Accounts, health spending in the U.S. grew 9.7% in 2020, accounting for USD 12,530 per person or USD 4.1 trillion in total.
 

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has claimed that the population aged 60 years and above is expected to reach 2.1 billion by the year 2050. The fact that the elderly population is more prone to dental disorders will pave the way for the global bioglass fiber industry expansion in the ensuing years.
 

What makes bioglass a noteworthy innovation in dentistry is the high surface speed reaction it offers that supports the formation of swift networks to the body tissues. Apart from this, the material is bioactive, consists of antimicrobial properties, and offers robust biocompatibility.
 

These properties favor the adoption of bioglass fiber in modern dentistry for various applications such as remodeling dentoalveolar complex or repairing voids and defects in the facial bone. In addition to this, the bioglass fiber market is poised to amass notable gains owing to strategic collaborations among leading companies and consistent technological advancements in this business space.
 

Top 3 applications of bioglass fiber in dentistry

The bioglass fiber market has been gaining significant traction in the recent past given the growing interest among various researchers for its bioactive and antimicrobial properties. This has also allowed the material to be widely adopted in clinical applications, especially in tissue engineering, spinal implants, and dentistry among others.
 

Speaking of dentistry, bioglass fiber was earlier used as a bone replacement tool in periodontal regeneration, maxillofacial reconstruction, and implants. Increasing research & developments and subsequent advancements have now allowed bioglass fiber to be used as a restorative material, dental adhesive, intracanal medicament, and to treat dental hypersensitivity. Following are some of the major applications of bioglass fiber in dentistry –

         1) Bioglass fiber as a restorative material

A major emphasis of modern restorative dentistry involves both the preservation of the tooth structure and the recreation of any missing substrate layers in terms of functional or aesthetic aspects. It is worth noting that most of the restorative materials used today are biomimetic and not bioactive. Their use leads to the formation of microgap and eventually a microleakage which can impact the mechanical properties of the tooth as well as the restoration process.
 

Nowadays, bioglass fiber is extensively used as a restorative material since it induces remineralization, sealing even the marginal interfaces using hydroxyapatite crystal precipitates. It also helps in reducing enzyme-mediated collagen network degradation within the teeth.
 

Bioglass fiber fillers are made of resin composite and have bioactive and antimicrobial properties which can help in preventing secondary dental caries. In effect, widespread product adoption as a restorative material is boosting the global bioglass fiber industry size.
 

         2) Bioglass fiber as a dental adhesive

Dental adhesives are known to make the bonding of a material or a compound with a natural tooth tissue achievable. With the growing usage of orthodontic brackets, there has been an increased pervasiveness of white spot lesions. This offers a favorable condition for microbial growth which can incur additional costs since regular tooth brushing becomes vital.
 

To counter this, there has been a growing emphasis among researchers to improve fluoride-releasing agents, adhesives, and primers to achieve the desired results that can prevent white spot lesions which are caused due to orthodontic brackets.
 

Bioglass fiber is found to have bonding capabilities that can reduce micropereability by stimulating remineralization of areas that are mineral deficient, further making it ideal as a dental adhesive. For instance, PerioGlass, which is a bioglass fiber material from NovaBone Products LLC, is extensively utilized to repair periodontal defects since it is known to be an exceptional grafting material.
 

      3) Bioglass fiber in implant dentistry

The dental implants market is expected to showcase transformative growth, especially with the growing adoption of bioglass fiber as an implant. Dental implants are  artificial screw-shaped tools that are implanted into the periosteum or alveolar socket to hold a replacement. Generally, titanium-based alloys are used as dental implants but they are bioinert, which can be overcome by using bioglass fiber implants.
 

Moreover, bioglass fiber along with titanium-based alloy implants offer active antimicrobial and bonding properties that can potentially reduce the overall treatment time.
 

According to a report by Global Market Insights, the dental applications of bioglass fiber are projected to amass revenues worth USD 7 million by 2027, witnessing a y-o-y growth rate of 8.4% over 2021-2027.
 

In a nutshell, the bioglass fiber market has seen commendable growth since its commercialization, especially given its exceptional bonding properties. It would be interesting to see how this industry landscape revolutionizes dentistry as well as spinal treatment and orthopedics in the upcoming years.