7 Teams Selected to Advance Next-Generation Restorative Dental Systems
Teams will develop restorative dental systems designed for durability, affordability, and real-world clinical use.
The National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) and National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), through the RADx® Tech Coordination Center at Cimit, have selected 7 teams to advance to Phase 2 of its program focused on next-generation restorative dental systems. The teams will each receive $250,000 in funding to help advance their technology; wraparound technology development and commercialization support will be provided by VentureWell.
The Next-Generation Restorative Dental Systems program seeks to accelerate the development of mercury-free restorative dental systems that can deliver durable, safe, and affordable performance, including in settings with limited equipment and clinical resources.
Dental amalgam has long provided a benchmark for durability, moisture tolerance, workflow efficiency, and cost. As of yet, no widely adopted mercury-free alternative has consistently matched that combination of performance, particularly for high-stress restorations and populations with higher risk of cavities and tooth decay. As the use of mercury-containing dental products is phased down, the need for practical alternatives is becoming increasingly urgent.
The program is designed to address that challenge by supporting integrated restorative systems rather than materials alone. The selected teams have proposed solutions that combine next-generation restorative material with a clinically realistic bonding or placement strategy, along with a workflow, curing, or setting approach appropriate to its intended use.
Accelerating Promising Dental Innovations
The program leverages the RADx® Tech innovation funnel, a stage-gated approach that evaluates promising technologies not only for scientific and technical merit, but also for clinical relevance, usability, regulatory considerations, manufacturing, and commercialization potential.
Teams moving forward will participate in Phase 2 of the program, where the focus will be on independent validation and design-lock readiness activities.
Advancing Teams
ADA Forsyth Institute and BISCO, Inc
Somerville, MA
A Next-Generation Amalgam-Replacement Resin Restorative System
Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine
Boston, MA
Bioactive Machinable Interpenetrating Phase Ceramic
Oregon Health and Science University
Portland, OR
Esterase-Resistant, Tough Integrated Adhesive-Composite System for Dental Restorations
Temple University, Kornberg School ofDentistry
Philadelphia, PA
PiezoFill Integrated Restorative System
T33 Dental (Rheyo)
Cambridge, MA
EKF-Bond
University of Colorado at Boulder
Boulder, CO
Dynamic Filler Interfaces for Improved Dental Composite Performance and Durability
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
PEKK-Lock: Chairside CAD/CAM PEKK Restorative System with Plasma-Assisted Bonding
Successful teams may subsequently advance into the final stage that includes activities supporting clinical evidence, regulatory readiness, manufacturing scale-up, and preparation for real-world deployment.