Scope of nanotechnology in dentistry - A review of literature

Applications of nanotechnology for dental biomaterials are growing rapidly. Nanodentistry includes diagnosis and treatment of oral cancer, prevention of plaque accumulation, treatment of teeth hypersensitivity, replacing fractured enamel, restoration of carious teeth and root canal filling. Various materials used as nanoparticles to be incorporated into the restorative dentistry are nanohydroxyapatite, chitosan, titanium oxide nanoparticles, nanoparticle glass carbomer, nanozirconia silica hydroxyapatite, fluorhydroxyapatite and carbon nanoparticles. Silver nanoparticles, chitosan, copper oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles also act as antimicrobial agents against Streptococcus mutans, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus aureus etc. In Endodontics, nanocalcium hydroxide and nanobioactive glass can be incorporated into the root canal sealer to improve the microleakage into the root canal system. Various other root canal sealers containing calcium tungstate, nanohydroxyapatite, zinc oxide nanoparticles, silver vanadate can be incorporated to improve the antimicrobial activity, radiopacity and tooth color change. Various endodontic irrigants have been developed to use in endodontics to improve the dentinal permeability, bactericidal effect, antimicrobial activity. Calcium hydroxide, White Mineral Trioxide Aggregate (WMTA) and Bioaggregate used as retrograde filling material have been modified by the use of nanoparticles to improve their microleakage, surface porosity and hardness.