Recent nano-technology

applications in fixed
prosthodontics
 What is
nanotechnology ?????
 Theterm nano is derived
from a Greek word meaning
dwarf.

Nanotechnology is artistic
engineering on a scale of
less than 100 nm to
accomplish desired design,
functions and performance
of end products.

Moresimply speaking, one

nanometer is one-billionth or
10-9 of a meter
 a DNA helical is 2 Nanometres
the bond between tow hydrogen atoms are

quarter of a nanometre.
 At nanoscale, physical,
chemical and biological
properties are different
from the properties at an
individual
atomic/molecular level
and bulk matter
 It has inspired man to use it in making
unbreakable screens, flexible smart
phones .
History of nanotechnology:
Long time before the introduction of the
term nanotechnology, the concept was
set up by physicist Richard Feynman in
1959. The idea was entitled as Theres
Plenty of Room at the Bottom.
Although Feynman did not apply the term

Nanotechnology or Nanosciences however

described the novel process in which
scientist can manipulate materials at atomic
or molecular levels.
 The term nanotechnology was coined by
Japanese scientist Dr. Nori Taniguchi in 1974
and was defined as the processing of
separation, consolidation, and deformation of
materials by one atom or one molecule

The idea of nanotechnology was further

probed in depth and promoted by Dr. Drexler
and published a book titled Engines of
Creation-The Coming Era of Nanotechnology
around late 1980s.
properties of nanomaterials
1-massive surface area
2-colour change
3- quantum theory
1-massive surface area
imagine a cube of 6m2 surface
area.
if you divide the cube into 8
smaller cubes you will have the
same volume, but twice the
surface area
So if you divide the cube into
smaller and smaller cubes till
the nanoscale, you will yet
have the same volume but
thousands of times the surface
area with increased surface
area we will gain more surfaces
for reactivity and binding
Application in dentistry:
in dentistry more packability of fillers and
interaction with the matrix materialso we
can gain higher mount of filler material
within a matrix.
2-colour change

when white light passes through a prism,

according to the refractive index of each
colour, white light is divided into the colour
spectrum, the larger waves have less
velocity( red to infrared) and the smaller
waves have more velocity(violet to
ultraviolet).
 If there is a cube of gold to
appear yellow, it has to
absorb all the colours in
white light and reflect yellow.
the smaller the cube will get
the less and smaller waves it
will reflect, its colour will
change, until finally it is so
smaller that it is reflecting
very small waves beyond the
perspective of human
eye(ultra violet) then it
becomes almost transparent.
Application in dentistry:
which is the idea of aesthetic materials in
dentistry, putting fillers that are originally
opaque, but when they are filled on a
nanoscale, the material still appears to be
translucent
3- quantum theory
no two electrons can rotate on
the same path according to
this theory.
when material exist on a
nanoscale, the electron are
squeezed along their path and
so, a change of their direction
occurs consequently a change
in their properties occurs.
so materials that are naturally
insoluble like gold, become
soluble, which is chemically
inert at normal scales, can
serve as a potent chemical
catalyst at nanoscales
Application in dentistry
opaque substances can become transparent
(copper);.
stable materials can turn combustible

(aluminum).
 Approaches in
Nanotechnology
Three approaches have been followed in
production of nanoparticles, namely:

Bottom up approach
Top down approach
functional approach
 Bottom up Top down functional
approach approach approach
creates products by reduces large components of a
building them up pieces of materials desired functionality
from atomic- and all the way down to are developed
molecular-scale the nanoscale. by without regard to
components. means of physical, how they might be
chemical or assembled.
This begins by mechanical process.
designing and
synthesizing custom Materials reduced
made molecules that to the nanoscale can
have the ability to suddenly show very
self-assemble or self different properties,
organize into higher enabling unique
order structures. applications.
 Bottom up Top down
approach approach

Disadvantag
es
time requires larger amounts
of materials and can
consuming lead to waste if excess
material is discarded.

Examples Dentine Nanocomposites

hypersensitivity Nanosolutions
Local anestheia Impression
Tooth repair materials
Tooth Nanoencapsulation
repositioning s
Diagnosis of oral Nanoneedles
cancer. Bone replacement.
Self-assembly
It is an autonomous organization of
components into patterns or structures
without human intervention.
Nanomaterials
Siegel has classified nanomaterials as zero
dimensional, one dimensional, two
dimensional and three dimensional
nanostructures .
Various nanostructures include: Nano

particles, Nano pores, Nano tubes, Nano

rods, Nano spheres, Nano fibres, Nano
shells, Dendrimers & dendritic copolymers.
 Importance of
nanotechnology in the
medical field
(nanomedicine)
 With the application of nanotechnology in
the medical field, it would be possible to
customize the diagnostics and treatment
plans based on the genetics of each patient
Nanomaterials in medicine and
dentistry
There are four main types of materials
(metals, polymers, ceramics and composites).
Nanomaterials have been developed in all

these four categories for practical

applications in health care .
To date, nanomaterials have been developed

and are being used practically for a range of

medical applications such as drug delivery,
gene delivery, imaging tools, and molecular
diagnostics
 Nanotechnology in
Dentistry Hope or Hype ?
Nanotechnology in
Dentistry
( A Hope)
 Nanotechnology has several applications in
dentistry, from diagnosis of pathological
conditions to local anaesthesia, orthodontic
tooth movement and periodontics.
The applications of nanotechnology in
dentistry can be studied under:
Nano diagnostics
Nano materials
Nano robotics
Advantages of nano
technology
General

In medicine

In
dentistry
General advantages of
nanotechnology:

faster electronics
reduced environmental pollution
self cleaning anti-bacterial coatings .
improved health ( water filters )
Stain-resistant fabrics
Advantages in medicine:
can help with creating
what is called smart drugs
.
These help cure people

faster and without the

side effects that other
traditional drugs .
even cures for ailments

like cancer, diabetes, and

other life threatening
diseases.
Advantages in dentistry:
Nanomaterials:
More biocompatible .

Biomimetic .

Less polymerization shrinkage and staining

Improved wear resistance and hardness Due to

higher filler loading.

Enhance polishability to resins.

Superior translucency.

Superior flexture strength .

Self etching one step material .

less time of treatment .

Nano Technology
only a Hype?
limitations
like two sides of a coin, though
nanotechnology posses
tremendous potential, it has its
share of limitations including :
social issues of public

acceptance, ethics, regulation,

and human safety.
economical nanorobot mass

production technique.
biocompatibility issues .

the expertise in precise

positioning and technique