The possibilities of nanotechnology present a ray of bright light in the future of the field of medicine. And it isn't just a matter of being able to have more precise diagnostic results in the future. The possibilities extend to being able to create an army of small mechanical devices that can help our antibodies to fight diseases and other harmful organisms. And that is just the tip of what nano-particles can contribute towards helping human beings achieve better health and live longer.

But while this sounds like something that is centuries away, it is not. This is so especially when it comes to field of dentistry. As it stands, getting your root canal repaired by microscopic machines is something that is a possibility in your lifetime:

What happens when you have a root canal inflammation

Getting a root canal inflammation treated is not simple.

This is so mainly because before a dentist can reach the root canal, he or she has to figure out ways to go through your teeth's enamel and dentin layers. These are very tough layers, something that makes it an aggressive procedure.

And even after treatment, there is the sealing process. It is not only expensive, but it usually also leaves a patient exposed to varying degrees of infections, something that can complicate the recovery process.

The near-possible reality

However, with nanotechnology, a simple root canal treatment needn't be so complicated. Since the technology employed will be operating at a microscopic level, there wouldn't be need for digging through tough teeth layers.

All that the nanoparticles will need to deliver anti-inflammatory medication is the system of dentinal tubules that already exist in the teeth of humans. All the hacking and filling that is the norm will be a thing of the past.

How close the reality is

Employing nanotechnology in dentistry is more than a mere pipe dream. In fact, the American College of Prosthodontics Education Foundation so much believes in this to such an extent that it has given a grant to a prosthodontics resident in order to enable him to start carrying out tests.

And with an associate professor at his side, it is good to assume that things are looking pretty hopeful for all those who prefer painless and inexpensive dental procedures. It means that soon, dentists will have to ditch most of the aggressive prosthodontic and endodontic procedures that they are currently relying on to treat their patients.