Graphene – Scope in conservative dentistry and endodontics

Abstract

Graphene, a member of the carbon family, is the strongest, stiffest, and thinnest known material, with a thickness of 10 nm. It has emerged as engineered nanomaterials and nanomedicines in dentistry with promising results. Usually produced employing Hummers method, graphene possesses excellent physiomechanical properties, electrical conductivity, stability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability. Owing to their interactions with dental pulp stem cells, they have been functionalized with many scaffolds in regenerative dentistry, to upregulate the odontogenic and osteogenic genes. This emerging science of graphene-based materials has also been used for the debridement of root canals. Their unique property of antibiofilm and antiadhesiveness has been used to prevent dental caries and erosions. In addition, they have been incorporated into various biomaterials to enhance their original properties, like in glass ionomers, biodentine, and in bleaching agents like hydrogen peroxide. Depending on their concentration and time of exposure to the substrate, graphene and their derivatives can be effective antibacterial agents. This updated review provides useful information on the promising introduction of graphene in the field of conservative dentistry and endodontics.