Unlocking miniature brilliance: micro/nanorobots for advanced dental theranostics

Oral diseases exert profound impacts on systemic health, posing substantial threats to global healthcare systems. The intricate anatomy, dynamic fluid clearance, and resilient biofilm barriers of the oral cavity collectively compromise the accessibility and efficacy of conventional therapies. Micro/nanorobots (MNRs), which perform precision tasks through active propulsion and programmable intervention, constitute an emerging paradigm for advanced dental theranostics (combined diagnosis and therapy). Over the past decade, MNRs have demonstrated particular promise in navigating confined oral anatomies, disrupting polymicrobial biofilms, and resolving inflammatory cascades. Mechanistically, MNRs promote oral tissue protection and regeneration through enhanced physical perturbation, targeted cell manipulation, and metabolic reprogramming. This review systematically evaluates the current progress of dental MNRs, and proposes translational challenges and prospects toward clinical implementation.