A review of the wide applications of microfluidic devices in peri-implantitis, periodontitis, and endodontics.

Periodontitis (PD) is a chronic inflammatory disease driven by a dysbiotic oral biofilm, leading to the progressive destruction of the tooth-supporting tissues. Peri-implantitis (PI) involves a similar plaque-induced inflammatory process that results in the loss of bone around dental implants. Endodontic diseases are primarily infections of the dental pulp and periapical tissues. The effective management of these conditions depends on accurate diagnosis and the removal of microbial biofilms from root canals, periodontal pockets, and implant surfaces. However, the development of advanced regenerative therapies has been hindered by a lack of preclinical models that can faithfully replicate the complex pathophysiology of human dental tissues. The integration of microfluidic devices (MFDs) offers a transformative approach for diagnostics and therapeutic screening. These platforms enable the precise analysis of microbial communities and host-derived biomarkers with high sensitivity. Concurrently, organ-on-a-chip (OOAC) technology provides a sophisticated in vitro methodology to model the dynamic, multi-tissue environments of the oral cavity, enabling real-time study of host-microbe interactions, disease progression, and treatment responses. This review examines the converging roles of MFD-based diagnostic tools and OOAC disease models in advancing the understanding and treatment of PD, PI, and endodontic infections. We highlight how these technologies address critical gaps in current dental research and discuss their potential to bridge diagnostic discovery with regenerative therapy development.