Eggshell-derived hydroxyapatite as a biomaterial in dentistry: a scoping review of synthesis, properties and applications.

BACKGROUND

Hydroxyapatite (HAp) derived from chicken eggshells has recently gained significant interest in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This paper aims to review the synthesis, properties and applications of eggshell-derived hydroxyapatite (E-HAp) in dentistry.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed and Scopus databases, along with a grey literature search. The references of selected studies were also manually reviewed to identify additional relevant articles. No restrictions were applied for language or publication year. Two independent reviewers carried out the study selection and data extraction processes.

RESULTS

Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the qualitative analysis. Most studies were in vitro investigations focused on applications such as dentinal tubule sealing (n = 4) and remineralization of initial enamel caries lesions (n = 4). E-HAp was also studied for tissue engineering applications, including alveolar ridge preservation as a bone graft material (n = 5) and periodontal regeneration (n = 2). Additional applications included regenerative endodontics (n = 3) and use as a pulp capping agent (n = 2).

CONCLUSION

E-HAp shows a wide range of applications in dentistry, particularly in tissue engineering and regenerative dentistry, marking it as a promising biomaterial in dentistry.