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Innovative Medicines & Omics

PERSPECTIVE ARTICLE
Nanomaterials in dentistry: A dental public

health professional perspective

Gnana Sarita Kumari Panga*
Department of Public Health Dentistry, SIBAR Institute of Dental Sciences, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh,
India

Abstract
In the 21 century, nanotechnology has rapidly evolved from a scientific curiosity
st
to a neoteric technology that is transforming across multiple specialties, including
dentistry. The integration of nanomaterials in oral health-care holds considerable
promise for improving treatment outcomes, strengthening diagnostic capabilities,
and addressing public health challenges. This perspective article, from the standpoint
of a dental public health professional, explores the role of nanomaterials in dentistry,
weighing their benefits against potential risks. It also highlights their potential
influence on disease prevention, treatment modalities, treatment accessibility, and
the overall management of oral health in populations.

Keywords: Nanotechnology; Nanomaterials; Dentistry; Dental public health; Perspective

1. Introduction
st
*Corresponding author: Nanotechnology, one of the cutting-edge technologies in the 21 century, is characterized
Gnana Sarita Kumari Panga by its ability to alter matter at the atomic and molecular levels, with structures ranging
(pgsarita@sids.ac.in) in size from 1 to 100 nanometers. It has completely transformed various fields, including
Citation: Panga GSK. medicine and dentistry. In dentistry, the application of nanomaterials presents novel
Nanomaterials in dentistry: A approaches to longstanding challenges, from enhancing diagnostic accuracy to
dental public health professional
perspective. Innov Med Omics. developing cutting-edge treatment modalities.
2024;1(1):83-87.
doi: 10.36922/imo.4287 While the potential for the use of nanoparticles in dentistry is significant, there
are also notable drawbacks, particularly concerning dental public health. One major
Received: July 19, 2024
Accepted: September 2, 2024 concern is the uncertainty surrounding the long-term safety and biocompatibility
Published Online: September 25, 2024 of nanomaterials. Although nanomaterials offer superior antibacterial properties,
Copyright: © 2024 Author(s). enhanced mechanical strength, and improved esthetic outcomes, their nanoscale
This is an Open-Access article size can lead to unique interactions with biological tissues, potentially resulting
distributed under the terms of the in unanticipated toxicological effects. Furthermore, the complexity and high cost
Creative Commons Attribution
License, permitting distribution, of producing nanomaterials may limit their availability, potentially exacerbating
and reproduction in any medium, disparities in dental care.
provided the original work is
properly cited. Given these considerations, this perspective offers a concise summary of how
Publisher’s Note: AccScience nanomaterials are reshaping dental practice from the standpoint of a dental public
Publishing remains neutral with health professional. It highlights their benefits and risks, along with the implications for
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional disease prevention, oral health promotion and management, treatment modalities, and
affiliations. efforts to address disparities in access to dental care.

Volume 1 Issue 1 (2024) 83 doi: 10.36922/imo.4287