10.3.2 Local Anaesthesia

Incorporating nanoparticles in anaesthesia effectively draws the anaesthetic agent to

the area, which is targeted by magnets, in order to block the nerves. The

nanotechnology-based formulation of liposome has found wide clinical acceptance

due to its capacity to encapsulate several drugs (Allen and Cullis 2013). Apart from

liposomes, biopolymers, cyclodextrins, lipid nanoparticles and hydrogels are other

formulations that exert an anaesthetic effect with an added benefit of lower toxicity

of the local anaesthetic agent (de Paula et al. 2012). Even though in vitro studies on

the effect of these formulations have demonstrated promising results, there is a

paucity of clinical trials that can confirm their efficacy. The current research focuses

on using computer-controlled nanorobots added to the colloidal suspension and

applied to the patient’s gingiva from where it can reach the periodontal ligament

and dental pulp. The clinician shall have control over the nerve-impulse traffic and

monitor the release of the anaesthetic agent until the completion of the treatment,

after which the sensation can be immediately restored. Nanoanaesthesia is thus an

emerging concept that is expected to make dental procedures painless and atraumatic

in its real sense.

10.3.3 Dentin Hypersensitivity

Dentin hypersensitivity is caused by a larger number and increased diameter of the

dentinal tubules. Thus, dentin tubule occlusion via precipitation or blocking into the

tubules is the most commonly used mechanism to relieve dentin hypersensitivity.

The use of nanorobots to block the exposed dentinal tubules is implicated in

effectively preventing the stimuli from inducing a pain response (Zandparsa 2014).

Moreover, the effectiveness of polyethylene-glycol-coated maghemite nanoparticles

and nano-carbonate apatite containing dentifrices in dentin hypersensitivity treat-

ment is also being explored.

10.3.4 Diagnosis and Treatment of Oral Cancer

Early detection of cancer is a critical factor that decides the prognosis of its

treatment. Due to the nanoparticle’s small size, the functional surface area that can

bind to the cancer cells is vastly increased. The use of a wide range of nanomaterials

like silver, gold and quantum dots is being explored for the early diagnosis and

treatment of oral cancer. Quantum dots are inorganic semiconductor nanocrystals

(<10 nm) of cadmium selenide. These are used as probes for the diagnosis of oral

cancer. When used as an adjunct to MRI, these quantum dots that travel through the

blood help improve the visualisation of tumour sites (Chen et al. 2018). Gold

nanoparticles that can provide localised surface plasmon resonances at near-infrared

wavelengths are promising contrast agents for optical coherence tomography (Chen

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