Advances of multifunctional hydrogels for periodontal disease

Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that develops from dental plaque that affects periodontal supporting tissues. The control of plaque by mechanical therapy has always been the mainstream of clinical practice. However, studies have shown that both bacteria and oxidative stress are associated with periodontal disease, which means blocking one of them alone may not acquire a better curative effect. The excellent physicochemical properties and biological functions of hydrogels have made them as kinds of ideal biomaterials for periodontal disease in recent years. For these reasons, hydrogels with antimicrobials and antioxidants are considered an effective treatment modality for periodontal disease. Among them, chitosan, cellulose, and other biopolymers have performed their desirable characteristics in the form of hydrogel materials to treat periodontal disease. Here we systematically summarize the current related research and applications of multifunctional hydrogels of antimicrobials and antioxidants in the hope of offering a new idea for new approaches to control periodontal damage.