Impact of Nanotechnology on Pain-free Dentistry

 by Sidra Nouyan

Technology is progressively developing and changing human life and health care. Nanotechnology deals with the physical, chemical and biological properties of structures and their components at a nanoscale dimension as it controls atoms and molecules one by one, creating structures which are functional. Nanotechnology can theoretically change entire healthcare techniques as it can propose disease prevention techniques. It also has the ability to cover operations free of pain which is very beneficial as pain management is one of the most challenging features in dentistry. It can allow nearly perfect oral health by using nano materials and biotechnology such as nanorobots and tissue engineering.

Dental nanorobots are able to move through teeth and tissue by using mechanisms which have specific movements. These can be controlled by nano computers that have been previously used for ultrasonography as they are programmed acoustically. One application of how they can be used is being left in the mouth by mouthwash or toothpaste on the surface of teeth and can clean organic residues as the move throughout the teeth, preventing accumulation on enamel continuously as they can work at speeds of 1- 10 micron/second. The potential effects must be considered, however the nanorobots are safely deactivated when swallowed.

Tissue engineering is another common example of using nanotechnology in dentistry. It enables the placement of implants which are more stable biologically and physiologically and have a shorter recovery period. It can be used in treating fractures and bone augmentations in the mouth.

In the future, nanotechnology is anticipated to provide advances and innovations in dentistry however there are numerous ethical issues to deal with. It can be toxic to not only humans but also the environment and nanotechnology is dentistry must be socially accepted to be used.