10.2.1 The Bottom-Up Approach

When the smaller blocks are arranged atom by atom using physical forces and

chemical linkages to produce larger structures, it is said to involve the bottom-up

approach. The human body cells, for example, are made up of the agglomeration of

enzymes, DNA and organelles that work in proper coordination with each other. In

dentistry, this approach is used to formulate local anaesthesia, impression materials

and tissue regeneration (Chandki et al. 2012; Khurshid et al. 2015).

10.2.2 The Top-Down Approach

In this approach, mechanisms like chemical vapour deposition (CVD), monolithic

processing and plasma etching are used for microfabrication. In other words, the

larger structure is established first, and its smaller components are studied in all

possible minute aspects until the full specification is reached to the core elementary

blocks. This approach is used in dentistry to synthesise nanocomposites, nano-

needles and nano-impression materials (Chandki et al. 2012; Zhang and Webster

2009).

10.2.3 Functional Approach

This approach does not focus on the method of nanoparticle production; instead, the

specific function or use of the nanoparticle is emphasised (Aeran et al. 2015;

Chandki et al. 2012).

10.3

Nanomaterials

The past few decades have witnessed biomimetic approaches to develop

nanomaterials to formulate various oral health-care products. The science of nano-

technology is being explored to develop dental materials with superior mechanical

properties,

abrasion

resistance,

aesthetic

properties

and

antimicrobial

Top-down approach

Larger structures are

established first,

elementary blocks

defined later.

Bottom-up approach

Smaller blocks arranged

to form larger structures

Functional approach

Emphasis on use of the

nanoparticle rather than

on its production

mechanism.

Fig. 10.1 Approaches to nanodentistry

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