Invited Speaker
Prof. Sivaprakash Rajakseharan
Prof. dr. Sivaprakash Rajasekharan BDS, MSc Paediatric Dentistry is currently working as Professor at the Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Special Care, Ghent University, Belgium and is the co-ordinator of the paediatric dentistry specialization programme. He is head of ‘Team Research’ for the Department of Oral Health Sciences at Ghent University, Belgium. He completed his post graduate in 2013) and PhD thesis on the material properties, cytotoxicity and clinical efficacy of tricalcium silicate based cements in 2017. He has received funding from the Flanders Research Foundation to work as a postdoctoral researcher Ghent University for 3 years. He is the recipient of the “Young investigator award” from the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD) in 2014. He is currently also an associate editor for the European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry. His research interests include tricalcium silicates, bioactive materials, paediatric endodontics and regenerative therapy.
Invited Lecture:
Biomaterials in Dental Traumatology: From Functional Repair to Biological Regeneration
Abstract:
This lecture will explore how biomaterials are redefining the management of dental trauma, moving the field from conventional repair toward biologically driven regeneration. Traumatic dental injuries present a unique clinical challenge, involving simultaneous damage to hard and soft tissues within a dynamic oral environment. The lecture will examine how next-generation biomaterials are being engineered to actively interact with the biological milieu, promoting tissue-specific healing rather than mere structural substitution.
Particular emphasis will be placed on how these materials can modulate cellular behaviour through controlled ionic release, mechanical signaling, and biochemical cues, thereby enhancing stem cell recruitment, angiogenesis, and odontogenic differentiation. The lecture will also address the emergence of smart and responsive biomaterials, capable of delivering growth factors or anti-inflammatory agents in response to environmental triggers such as pH or enzymatic activity being especially relevant in post-traumatic settings. In addition, the integration of photobiomodulation, mechanobiology, and digital manufacturing technologies will be discussed as enabling platforms that enhance biomaterial performance and clinical precision in trauma management.
Ultimately, this lecture will provide a comprehensive overview of how biomaterial innovation is reshaping dental traumatology, presenting translational pathways that unify bioengineering principles with clinical realities. The overarching goal is to illustrate how strategic material design can restore not only form and function but also biological continuity and regenerative potential in traumatized dental tissues.