Search Strategy for Antimicrobial Nanomedicine for Combating Dental Infections: A Rapid Review

Abstract

Alarming increases in antibiotic resistance (AR) pose a significant threat to global public health, complicating the management of infections when conventional antibiotics fail. Notably, dentists account for over 10% of all antibiotic prescriptions, underscoring an urgent need for alternative interventions in dental infection control. In response, this review critically examines the emerging role of antimicrobial nanomedicine in dental care, emphasizing its ability to both prevent and treat oral infections while concurrently mitigating the overreliance on traditional antibiotic regimens. The study aims to conduct a rapid review of existing literature that examines the potential role of nanomedicine in combating antibiotic-resistant dental infections. The goal is to evaluate the effectiveness, mechanisms, and translational potential of various nanotechnological interventions in oral health care. Our investigation focuses on the application of various nanoparticles – ranging from silver, chitosan, zinc oxide, to lipid-based systems – in the management of infections that lead to dental diseases.​