APPLICATIONS OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES IN PROSTHODONTICS: A NEW APPRAISAL

Silver (Ag) has been in use in medicine since time immemorial because of its antimicrobial properties. However, due to the emergence of antibiotics, the use of Ag has been declined. Several pathogenic bacteria have developed resistance against various antibiotics. This has led to the reemergence of Ag. Recently, nanoscience and nanotechnology are gaining tremendous popularity. The small size of nanoparticles provides larger surface area and hence increases the effectiveness of nanoparticles. Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) are used in medical and dental applications ranging from Ag‑based wound dressings, Ag‑coated medical devices such as catheters, bone cements, in gels, lotions, cosmetics, in dental restorative materials, endodontic cements, dental implants? caries inhibitory agents, and in prosthesis.