Applications of Nanomaterials in Dentistry

Abstract

Over the past decade, the use of nanomaterials in dentistry has grown significantly, both as standalone materials and in combination with polymers to form composite materials. The integration of nanomaterials and nanotechnology continues to propel substantial growth in the dental biomaterials industry (Padovani et al. Trends Biotechnol 33:621, 2015). Nanotechnology has come a long way from being a theoretical concept introduced by Richard Feynman in 1959 to becoming an integral part of various aspects of basic life sciences, including dentistry (Sreenivasalu et al. Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland). 12, 2022). It offers promising solutions to hurdles associated with conventional biomaterials, as it can mimic the surface and interface properties of natural tissues. When combined with nanomaterials, nanotechnology provides a powerful approach for precisely controlling particles at the nanometer scale. Many of these advancements have demonstrated significant relevance and impact on human life and are already being adopted in clinical practice. While the fields of engineering and medicine have gained significant traction, large amount of research is still ongoing to develop exciting new biomaterials that are pushing the boundaries of science and can be used as templates for various clinical applications. This is helping to establish interdisciplinary translational research taking materials and technology from bench to bedside.