Nanotechnology: The New Era of Technology

Nanotechnology is a natural end result of scientific development and our ability to understand and manipulate matter at smaller and smaller level. Current research is directed towards the production of wide array of different nano-scale structures. The fabrication techniques of the structures can be divided into two approaches: ‘top-down’ and ‘bottom-up’. New potential treatment opportunities in dentistry may include local anaesthesia, dentition re-naturalisation and permanent hypersensitivity cure, complete orthodontic realignments during single office visit, covalently bonded diamondised enamel and continuous oral health maintenance using mechanical dentifrobots. Nanotechnology is foreseen to change health care in a fundamental way by providing novel methods for disease diagnosis and prevention, therapeutics selection, tailored to the patients profile, drug delivery and gene therapy.