A new era considering inorganic trace elements and biological activity of dental biomaterials (angiogenic activity)

Recently due to the environmental and ecosystemic changes caused by air pollution, impurities of foods and water, and exposure to enormous electromagnetic waves we have greater concern regarding the release of inorganic trace elements from different materials that can have drastic effects on life of biological cells, tissues, and organs. Inorganic trace elements are essential substances, and in trace amounts (Figure 1) play critical roles in many physiological and pathological processes.[1] One of the most important processes is angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from preexisting capillaries.[2] Angiogenesis has great influence on physiological conditions such as regeneration and reparation processes, as well as pathological conditions including malignancies and tumorigenesis.[3] In dentistry, angiogenesis plays a great role in regeneration of dentin and dental pulp tissues after injuries, and has utmost importance in revascularization of traumatic premature teeth, which results in radicular dental pulp survival and continuity of root formation.[4,5