Abstract

Background: Nanotechnology has emerged as a transformative paradigm in dental and oral medicine, offering unprecedented opportunities to improve drug delivery, diagnostics, and biomaterial performance. Nano formulations including polymeric nanoparticles, liposomes, dendrimers, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanogels, and inorganic nanomaterials have demonstrated superior properties over conventional formulations in terms of solubility enhancement, controlled release, mucoadhesion, and targeted delivery to oral tissues. Objective: This review critically appraises the published literature from January 2020 to April 2025, examining the design, formulation strategies, preclinical and clinical outcomes, and safety profiles of nano formulations across key dental disciplines, including caries prevention, periodontology, endodontics, oral oncology, oral mucosal diseases, and implantology. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases was conducted using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and free-text terms. Studies were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, focusing on peer-reviewed research articles, randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, and in vivo/in vitro studies. Conclusion: Nano formulations present a compelling frontier for advancing oral healthcare. However, widespread clinical translation remains hindered by regulatory uncertainties, scale-up difficulties, biocompatibility concerns, and limited long-term clinical data. Future research must prioritize robust randomized trials, standardized characterization protocols, and regulatory frameworks tailored for nanomedicines in dentistry.

Keywords

nanoparticles, dental drug delivery, oral nanomedicine, nano formulation, periodontitis, anti-caries, endodontics