The next generation of dental treatments: Leveraging smart-responsive nanomaterials for unique oral environments.

Oral diseases are highly prevalent worldwide and are a burden to public health systems and economic resources. They often destroy oral tissues, impairing essential functions such as mastication and speech. Conventional therapeutic strategies face several challenges, including poor biocompatibility and limited regenerative outcomes, and are frequently constrained by the complex and dynamic oral microenvironment. Smart-responsive nanomaterials provide effective solutions by dynamically reacting to key pathological features of the oral milieu, such as dysbiosis, oxidative stress, acidic pH, and immune imbalance. These materials facilitate targeted tissue repair and regeneration through the precise, stimuli-responsive release of therapeutic agents. In this review, we summarized the unique physiological and pathological characteristics of the oral microenvironment, discussed the fundamental response mechanisms of nanomaterials sensitive to physical, chemical, and biological stimuli, and analyzed the composition and design of emerging nanoplatforms. We highlighted their applications in tooth and periodontal tissue regeneration and discussed current challenges and key considerations in clinical translation to provide a theoretical foundation for future clinical advancements in oral regenerative medicine.