A relevant issue in oral tissue regeneration and biomaterial development is the controlled modulation of target cell behavior towards tissue formation, regeneration and successful biomaterial integration. To meet this objective, a comprehensive understanding of the influence of the extracellular microenvironment and biomaterial properties on oral cell biology is crucial. Therefore, our research focuses on the characterization and identification of material-related parameters that modulate the cell behavior. Within the scope of this work, Dr. Altmann and her group revealed a direct link between topography-induced cell shape, proliferation behavior and osteogenic biomarker expression in bone-forming cells. This knowledge and further information from ongoing work can be used in the future to develop optimized biomaterials for improved tissue regeneration.