Nanodrug delivery systems in dentistry: a review on current status and future perspectives

The present review provides an insight into various potential areas of dentistry that are being invaded by nanotechnology based drugs and drug delivery systems. Current treatments for diseases of dental and oral structures rely on the use of classical pharmacological agents which, in some cases are limited by low efficacy and lack of selectivity to target cells. However, various nanostructures in drug delivery and their challenges in the field of dentistry have not been reviewed so far in the literature. The different treatment opportunities of importance include caries control restorations, tooth remineralisation, management of dentinal hypersensitivity, dental caries vaccine, management of oral biofilm, root canal disinfection, local anaesthesia and periodontal infection. The authors have also identified few dental applications demanding extensive research to emerge as a promising therapeutic strategy. We conclude by claiming that dentistry should follow the trend of probing matter at nanoscale to achieve a predictable treatment outcome.