Advanced Chitosan Biomacromolecular Platforms for Dental Biomedical Applications: A Bibliometric and Narrative Review of Chemical Functionalization, Bioactivity, and Therapeutic Potential

Chitosan is a linear polysaccharide obtained by deacetylation of chitin, which is naturally present in the exoskeletons of crustaceans, insect cuticles, and the cell walls of certain fungi. Its favorable biological properties, combined with a highly adaptable chemical structure, have made it one of the most promising polymers for biomedical use. These attributes have enabled the development of diverse biomaterial platforms, including hydrogels, nanoparticles, nanofibers, scaffolds, membranes, implant coatings, and drug delivery systems tailored for oral and dental applications. The objective of this review is to highlight recent advances in chitosan-based biomaterials for modern dentistry by combining bibliometric analysis with insights into molecular engineering, chemical functionalization, and biomaterial fabrication. The literature search was conducted in the Scopus database using the query “chitosan AND dent”, with the bibliometric analysis covering publications indexed from 1989 to 2025. It examines how structural modifications influence the physicochemical and biological properties of chitosan, with particular emphasis on antimicrobial activity, biofilm management, tissue regeneration, osseointegration, remineralization, and controlled drug release. The discussion covers current applications in implantology, periodontics, endodontics, restorative dentistry, oral wound healing, and localized therapy. The bibliometric analysis revealed a marked increase in scientific output, particularly in recent years, alongside growing interest in multifunctional chitosan-based platforms for antimicrobial therapy, tissue regeneration, remineralization, and localized drug delivery. Future studies should prioritize standardized material characterization and manufacturing, long-term in vivo validation, and well-designed clinical trials to facilitate clinical translation. By integrating recent advances in chemical functionalization, biomaterial engineering, and oral biomedical applications, this review offers a comprehensive overview of advanced chitosan-based platforms and highlights current strategies for designing multifunctional biomaterials that enhance therapeutic performance.