Insights into Nanotools for Dental Interventions

Orodental afflictions although not life-threatening have recently been found to be clinically associated with a large variety of life style related diseases, adding to the disease burden and leading to poor health outcomes. The disease ramifications might lead to poor quality of life and often go unnoticed till exhibits severe symptoms and evidence of disease associations. Despite being a locoregional affliction, they do not remain restricted to the mouth cavity; rather they have negative effects on distant organs too. Henceforth the disease requires a thorough understanding, and the treatment modalities are devised in a manner to cater mild to severe status of orodental afflictions. Successful treatment of orodental afflictions requires the customized therapeutic approaches which can be borrowed from the nanotechnology. The advancement in nanotechnology and its ramification into medicinal and allied fields has brought remarkable changes in the field of dentistry. Additionally, the forays into nanomaterial sciences, biotechnology, and maneuvering through dental nanorobotics have further added impetus to contemporary dental practices. Often the dental infections are progressive in nature and need an umbrella approach for treatment to deliver comprehensive oral hygiene and health. Nanotechnology tools with their aesthetic approach have recently emerged as a favored tool for both practitioners and patients. The treatment protocols could include controlled oral analgesia, dentin replacement therapy, as well as cure for dental hypersensitivity. Interesting development of mechanical dentifrobots for tooth repairing via covalently bonded diamondized enamel ensures robust orodontal environment. Succinctly put, nanotools have opened up avenues in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of dental diseases. The development of nanotools allows perfect therapeutic approach which has led to nearly seamless oral health, possibly due to the use of nanomaterials, tissue engineering, nanocomposites, and nanorobots. Nanotools have elicited great impact on restorative dentistry, pharmacotherapeutics, and diagnostic techniques and offers better ways toward maintaining perfect oral health. This chapter focuses on a review of various approaches of nanotechnology which has contributed to the advancements in dentistry. It also focuses on advent of other nanotools which will cater to a variety of dental ailments associated with bony as well as soft tissue defects. It is realized that the nanotechnology offers a perfect tool to treat a multitude of orodental infections.