Pragmatic Utilization of Technology in Dentistry: Current Status and Future Perspectives

The primary purpose of research is to gather new knowledge or to collatethe existing data for further progression. The field of dental research has witnessed exponential growth in the past few years. Scientists are developing new treatment approaches to control diseases, and to construct or regenerate lost structures. Tremendous research has been going on especially in the field of stem cells, gene therapy, and nanotechnology. The oral cavity is one of the most accessible areas and an excellent source of stem cells for tissue engineering and for the clinical applications of gene therapy. Stem cells and gene therapy provide new strategies for regeneration of missing tissues and treatment of diseases and nanotechnology holds promise for advanced diagnostics, targeted drug delivery, and biosensors. This chapter aims to discuss current status, potential, and challenges in this area.