Review-Graphene Nanocomposites in Dentistry: A State-of-the-Art Review

With advancements in the field of nanotechnology, various innovations and developments have been made in the field of dentistry during the past few years. The emergence of 2D nanomaterial, particularly graphene and its derivatives has further embellished the dental applications of nanomaterials due to its excellent electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, outrageous biocompatibility, modest cytotoxicity, cell differentiation and antimicrobial characteristics. The current review has been planned to highlight the significant contribution of graphene and its derivatives to the various aspects of dentistry. The structure, fabrication process and characterization techniques for graphene, a multifunctional nanomaterial, are discussed in general, followed by dental-based characteristics in particular. Graphene nanocomposites are of great value for restorative dentistry in developing nanofillers for filling the cavities created by infection as well as inhibits dentin demineralization. For bone tissue engineering, graphene plays a pivotal role in stem cell differentiation, scaffold development, and dental pulp regeneration. In the case of preventive dentistry, graphene and its derivatives are involved in the inhibition of biofilm accumulation, thus arresting dental carriers. Further, the challenges and prospects of graphene-derived materials in biomedical applications including dentistry have been accentuated. Various drawbacks linked with the usage of graphene in dental implications include its long-term stability in corrosive conditions, methodologies for expelling it from the body, long-term cytotoxicity, defects in graphene-derived dental implants as well as its precise insertion in the dental area. Introduction of advanced techniques viz., 3-dimensional printing, nanozymes and nanobots can further revolutionize the field of dentistry.