Nanotechnology in Dentistry – Applications, Hazards, Benefits

February 16, 2015

(Nanowerk) – There appears to be many potential benefits to patient outcome from using nanotechnology in dentistry. The benefits include new materials for preventative health care using dentifrices that are either antimicrobial and/or have some restorative properties for the enamel and dentine. A new review paper in ACS Nano aims to detail the ultrafine structure, chemical composition, and reactivity of dental tissues in the context of interactions with ENMs, including the saliva, pellicle layer, and oral biofilm; then describes the applications of ENMs in dentistry in context with beneficial clinical outcomes versus potential risks.