Hybrid materials are a recent addition in the field of restorative dentistry for computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) indirect restorations. The long-term clinical success of modern dental restorative materials is influenced by multiple factors. Among the characteristics affecting the longevity of a restoration, the mechanical properties and physicοchemical interactions are of utmost importance. While numerous researchers constantly evaluate mechanical properties, the biological background of resin-based CAD/CAM biomaterials is scarcely investigated and, therefore, less described in the literature. This review aims to analyze biofilm formation on the surfaces of novel, hybrid, resin-based CAD/CAM materials and evaluate the methodological protocols followed to assess microbial growth. It is demonstrated that the surface structure, the composition and the finishing and polishing procedures on the surface of a dental restorative material influence initial bacterial adhesion; however, most studies focus on in vitro protocols, and in vivo and/or in situ research of microbiomics in CAD/CAM restorative materials is lacking, obstructing an accurate understanding of the bioadhesion phenomenon in the oral cavity.
Keywords: CAD/CAM; biofilm; dental materials; resin-based biomaterials.