Effects of Hydroxyapatite Incorporation on the Mechanical, Physicochemical, Biological and Adhesive Properties of Dental Resin Composites: a Systematic Review
Year: 2026
Type: study-registration
Abstract: Hydroxyapatite (HA), the main mineral phase of tooth tissues, has been investigated as a filler or additive in dental resin composites to reinforce the material and confer bioactivity. However, the available in vitro evidence is heterogeneous and, in part, conflicting, as outcomes appear to depend on HA particle size, surface treatment, concentration, association with other agents, and matrix composition, and studies differ in the comparators used and in the properties evaluated. This project is a systematic review of in vitro studies that will investigate the effects of HA incorporation on the mechanical, physicochemical, biological, and adhesive properties of dental resin composites. The protocol follows the PRISMA-P guidelines, and the review will be reported according to the PRISMA 2020 statement. Eligible studies must evaluate resin composites containing HA, in any form, concentration, or association with other fillers or agents, and include a comparison with resin composites without HA. No hierarchy between primary and secondary outcomes will be applied. Searches will be conducted in PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and LIVIVO, complemented by grey literature (Google Scholar and WorldCat) and manual screening of reference lists, without language or year restrictions. Two blinded reviewers will independently screen records in Rayyan, extract data using a standardized form, and assess the risk of bias with the RoBDEMAT tool. The evidence will be synthesized qualitatively, and a meta-analysis will be performed if sufficient methodological and statistical homogeneity is observed. The review is expected to map the range of HA-containing composite formulations and test conditions, to describe the direction and consistency of the effects of HA incorporation in each outcome domain, and to identify which HA and composite characteristics are associated with favorable or unfavorable results. It is also expected to identify methodological limitations and gaps in the current evidence, to inform the design of future in vitro studies and, eventually, of the development of HA-containing resin composites.
Source: Open Science Framework
Language: English
Subfield: General Dentistry
Field: Dentistry
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7214959064