Title:Nanotechnology in Dentistry: Drug Delivery Systems for the Control of Biofilm-Dependent Oral Diseases
Volume: 11
Issue: 6
Author(s): Francisco Fabio Oliveira de Sousa, Camila Ferraz, Lidiany K arla de Azevedo Rodrigues, Jacqueline de Santiago Nojosa and Monica Yamauti
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Biofilm, caries, drug delivery, dentistry, endodontic, nanotechnology, nanoparticles, oral diseases, periodontal disease.
Abstract: Dental disorders, such as caries, periodontal and endodontic diseases are major public health issues worldwide.
In common, they are biofilm-dependent oral diseases, and the specific conditions of oral cavity may develop infectious
foci that could affect other physiological systems. Efforts have been made to develop new treatment routes for the treatment
of oral diseases, and therefore, for the prevention of some systemic illnesses. New drugs and materials have been
challenged to prevent and treat these conditions, especially by means of bacteria elimination. “Recent progresses in understanding
the etiology, epidemiology and microbiology of the microbial flora in those circumstances have given insight and
motivated the innovation on new therapeutic approaches for the management of the oral diseases progression”. Some of
the greatest advances in the medical field have been based in nanosized systems, ranging from the drug release with designed
nanoparticles to tissue scaffolds based on nanotechnology. These systems offer new possibilities for specific and
efficient therapies, been assayed successfully in preventive/curative therapies to the oral cavity, opening new challenges
and opportunities to overcome common diseases based on bacterial biofilm development. The aim of this review is to
summarize the recent nanotechnological developments in the drug delivery field related to the prevention and treatment of
the major biofilm-dependent oral diseases and to identify those systems, which may have higher potential for clinical use.
