Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
described. The final chapter discusses about nanodiagnostics in microbiology and dentistry. The chapter
covers the recent developments and futuristic applications of nanotechnology in these fields.
1.5
FUTURE DIRECTIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
Biomedical scientists and clinicians all over the world are working towards prevention and early deliv-
ery of care to maintain human health. It is envisaged that nanotechnology will have a great impact in
dental research and improvement in current treatment methodologies leading to superior oral health care
in the near future. Nanomaterials will be used far more widely and will yield superior properties and
combined with biotechnology, laser and digital guided surgery will thus provide excellent dental care.
Smarter preventive measures and earlier interventions to avert craniofacial disorders using nanodiag-
nostics seems a reality. Nanotechnology research will definitely pave the way for development of tools
which would allow clinicians to diagnose and treat oral malignancies at their earliest stage. Biomimetics
and nanotechnology have given us the knowledge to bioengineer lost tooth and remineralization of
carious lesions. This is one field which has stimulated immense interest among the dental and nanote-
chnology researchers. Salivary glands can be a gateway to the body for the delivery of precise molecu-
lar therapies using nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems with fewer side effects. Nanofillers have
improved the aesthetic, physical and mechanical properties of dental composite materials.
Futuristic applications have been proposed on utilizing nanobots (nanoscale robots) to treat cari-
ous lesions, dentin hypersensitivity, induce dental anaesthesia, teeth repositioning (using orthodon-
tic nanobots that could directly manipulate periodontal tissues allowing rapid, painless movement).
Dentifrobots (nanorobots in dentifrices) delivered through mouthwash or toothpaste could patrol
supra- and subgingival surfaces of tooth performing continuous plaque/calculus removal and metabo-
lize trapped organic matter into harmless and odorless vapor. These proposals may seemingly look
outrageous, but inventions have always been the brainchildren of outrageous ideas of the scientific
community. Predictive tools like “lab-on-a-chip” can utilize saliva as a media to diagnose dental and
other physical anomalies of the human body. The transition from nanotechnology to nanomanufactur-
ing is truly under way. Numerous products are now on the market and many new sophisticated and
intelligent “nano” products are being developed and will become available in the near future.
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