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Review
. 2025 Apr 17;17(4):e82432.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.82432. eCollection 2025 Apr.

3D Bioprinting: Shaping the Future of Periodontal Tissue Regeneration and Disease Management

Jahnavi R Acharya  1 , Santosh Kumar  1 , Gaurav A Girdhar  1 , Shirishkumar Patel  1 , Nirav H Parekh  2 , Hiren H Patadiya  3 , Anjali Narsinhbhai Zinjala  1 , Mainul Haque  4   5
Affiliations
Review

3D Bioprinting: Shaping the Future of Periodontal Tissue Regeneration and Disease Management

Jahnavi R Acharya et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

The periodontium is one of the most complex tissues in the body, consisting of a hierarchical blend of soft and hard tissues. Its complex architecture makes treating and regenerating disease-damaged periodontal tissues a persistent challenge in biomedicine. Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting represents a transformative approach to tissue engineering, offering promising advancements in treating and regenerating periodontal disease. This innovative technology enables the precise fabrication of complex, patient-specific tissue structures, facilitating the repair and restoration of damaged periodontal tissues, including the gingiva, bone, and periodontal ligament (PDL). By utilizing biocompatible materials such as living cells, hydrogels, and growth factors, 3D bioprinting has the potential to create functional, biologically integrated constructs that can mimic the natural architecture of periodontal tissues. However, translating these advancements into clinical applications remains a challenge. Emerging technologies like bioprinting have been developed to address some limitations of traditional tissue engineering methods. This review explores the current state of 3D bioprinting technology, its application in periodontal disease treatment, and the challenges associated with scaling up this technology for clinical use. Additionally, it discusses the future implications of bioprinting for personalized medicine, offering a new frontier for regenerating periodontal tissues and improving patient outcomes in oral health. Integrating 3D bioprinting into periodontal regenerative therapies could revolutionize clinical practices, offering more effective, tailored, and sustainable solutions to address the challenges of periodontal disease.

Keywords: biocompatible bioinks; biomaterials; extrusion-based 3d bioprinting; growth factors; hydrogel; mesenchymal stem cells; patient-specific tissue constructs; periodontitis; regenerative periodontal tissues; tissue engineering.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Progressive loss of periodontal tissues due to periodontitis.
Notes: The progression from a healthy tooth to periodontitis begins with plaque buildup, leading to gingivitis, characterized by gum inflammation. If untreated, it advances to periodontitis, causing periodontal pockets, gingival recession, loss of the periodontal ligament (PDL), and bone loss, ultimately risking tooth loss. Illustration Credit: Dr. Jahnavi Acharya. This image was created using the premium version of BioRender [15] (https://BioRender.com/057o5), accessed on March 30, 2025, with agreement license number EL2834JV21. We did not utilize anything from the BioRender Template Library.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Difference between 3D printing and 3D bioprinting.
Illustration Credit: Dr. Jahnavi Acharya. This image was created using the premium version of BioRender [15] (https://BioRender.com/m9icrss), accessed on March 30, 2025, with an agreement license number HJ2834WQZ4. We did not use anything from the BioRender Template Library.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Methodology of the study.
Illustration Credit: Dr. Jahnavi Acharya. This image was created using the premium version of BioRender [15] (https://BioRender.com/), accessed on February 22, 2025, with agreement license number ZN28164IZK. We did not utilize anything from the BioRender Template Library.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Methods of 3D bioprinting.
Illustration Credit: Dr. Jahnavi Acharya. This image was created using the premium version of BioRender [15] (https://BioRender.com/487skxg), accessed on March 30, 2025, with agreement license number IB28367MB7. We did not utilize anything from the BioRender Template Library.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Three main types of 3D bioprinting processes used in periodontics.
Illustration Credit: Dr. Jahnavi Acharya. This image was created using the premium version of BioRender [15] (https://BioRender.com/e08d892), accessed on March 30, 2025, with agreement license number NQ28362SPI. We did not utilize anything from the BioRender Template Library.
Figure 6
Figure 6. Extrusion-based bioprinting with three different mechanisms: pneumatic, piston-based, and screw-based.
Illustration Credit: Dr. Jahnavi Acharya. This image was created using the premium version of BioRender [15] (https://BioRender.com/9xhw20i), accessed on March 30, 2025, with the agreement license number XW283GFBUZ. We did not utilize anything from the BioRender Template Library.
Figure 7
Figure 7. Steps in 3D bioprinting.
CT: computed tomography, CBCT: cone beam computed tomography, MRI: magnetic resonance imaging, ECM: extracellular matrix, STL file: stereolithography (common file format used for 3D bioprinting/printing and computer-aided design representing objects in three dimensions). Illustration Credit: Dr. Jahnavi Acharya. This image was created using the premium version of BioRender [15] (https://BioRender.com/45kccut), accessed on March 30, 2025, with agreement license number NQ283GI1TD. We did not utilize anything from the BioRender Template Library.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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