Applications of Nanotechnology in Endodontics: A Narrative Review

Abstract

The term “nanodentistry” was first introduced at the beginning of the 21st century. In recent decades,
nanotechnology has progressed significantly, creating numerous opportunities for application in various biomedical
fields. In particular, the use of nanoparticles in endodontics has attracted considerable interest due to their unique
characteristics. As a result of their nano-size, nanoparticles possess several properties that can improve the treatment of
endodontic infections, such as increased antibacterial activity, increased reactivity, and the ability to be functionalized
with other reactive compounds. Materials whose size is less than 100 nm in at least one dimension are referred to as
nanomaterials. Among nanoparticles can be found grains, fibers, clusters, nano-holes, or their combinations. The main
feature of nanoparticles is their large surface area per unit mass compared to bulk matter. Due to their large surface area,
nanoparticles have significantly modified the physical and chemical properties of the material in comparison to bulk
matter. Nanoparticles with their modified and specific physicochemical properties, such as ultra-small size, large surface
area/mass ratio, and increased chemical reactivity, have opened new prospects in endodontics. For the present study, an
electronic search was done using MEDLINE (PubMed), Google Scholar, and open-access journals that are published
by Elsevier. For search words and phrases: «nanotechnology», «nanotechnology in dentistry», and «classification of
nanoparticles» were used in various combinations. Forty articles were found, from which 16 were selected. The selected
items include research and review articles. This review provides insights into the unique characteristics of nanoparticles,
including their chemical, physical, and antimicrobial properties; limitations; and potential uses. Various studies
concerning different methods of using nanoparticles in endodontics have been thoroughly studied. Based on previous
clinical studies, methods of nanoparticle use in endodontics were evaluated. The findings indicate that nanoparticle
applications in endodontics have a lot of potential.