Editorial
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Mar 16, 2025; 13(8): 100839
Published online Mar 16, 2025. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v13.i8.100839
Application of nanotechnology to dentistry: Impact of graphene nanocomposites on clinical air quality
Ruth Rodríguez Montaño, Mario A Alarcón-Sánchez, Melissa Martínez Nieto, Juan J Varela Hernández, Sarah M Lomelí Martínez
Ruth Rodríguez Montaño, Department of Health and Illness as an Individual and Collective Process, University Center of Tlajomulco, University of Guadalajara, Tlajomulco de Zuñiga 45641, Jalisco, Mexico
Ruth Rodríguez Montaño, Institute of Research in Dentistry, Department of Integral Dental Clinics, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara 44340, Jalisco, Mexico
Mario A Alarcón-Sánchez, Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Chemical-Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Guerrero, Guerrero 39090, Mexico
Mario A Alarcón-Sánchez, Instituto Odontológico del Pacífico Sur, Chilpancingo de los Bravo 39022, Mexico
Melissa Martínez Nieto, Independent Researcher, Tijuana 22116, Baja California, Mexico
Juan J Varela Hernández, Sarah M Lomelí Martínez, Department of Medical and Life Sciences, Centro Universitario de la Ciénega, Universidad de Guadalajara, Ocotlan 47810, Jalisco, Mexico
Sarah M Lomelí Martínez, Master of Public Health, Department of Well-being and Sustainable Development, Centro Universitario del Norte, Universidad de Guadalajara, Ocotlan 46200, Jalisco, Mexico
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the preparation of this manuscript; Lomelí Martínez SM, Rodríguez Montaño R and Martínez Nieto M contributed to the idea; Lomelí Martínez SM, Martínez Nieto M, Alarcón-Sánchez MA, Varela Hernández JJ did literature search; Rodríguez Montaño R, Lomelí Martínez SM, Varela Hernández JJ wrote the preliminary draft; Varela Hernández JJ, Rodríguez Montaño R, Alarcón-Sánchez MA and Lomelí Martínez SM critically reviewed and approved the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Sarah M Lomelí Martínez, PhD, Academic Research, Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Medical and Life Sciences, Centro Universitario de la Ciénega, Universidad de Guadalajara, Av. Universidad 1115, Col. Lindavista, Ocotlan 47810, Mexico. sarah.lomeli@academicos.udg.mx
Received: August 27, 2024
Revised: November 2, 2024
Accepted: November 15, 2024
Published online: March 16, 2025
Processing time: 98 Days and 10 Hours
Abstract

Concerns about air quality in dental clinics where aerosol generation during procedures poses significant health risks, have prompted investigations on advanced disinfection technologies. This editorial describes the strengths and limitations of ventilation and aerosol control measures in dental offices, especially with respect to the use of graphene nanocomposites. The potential of graphene nanocomposites as an innovative solution to aerosol-associated health risks is examined in this review due to the unique properties of graphene (e.g., high conductivity, mechanical strength, and antimicrobial activity). These properties have produced promising results in various fields, but the application of graphene in dentistry remains unexplored. The recent study by Ju et al which was published in World Journal of Clinical Cases evaluated the effectiveness of graphene-based air disinfection systems in dental clinics. The study demonstrated that graphene-based disinfection techniques produced significant reductions in suspended particulate matter and bacterial colony counts, when compared with traditional methods. Despite these positive results, challenges such as material saturation, frequency of filter replacement, and associated costs must be addressed before widespread adoption of graphene-based disinfection techniques in clinical practice. Therefore, there is need for further research on material structure optimization, long-term safety evaluations, and broader clinical applications, in order to maximize their positive impact on public health.

Keywords: Graphene; Nanocomposites; Antibacterial activity; Biomedical applications; Air disinfection

Core Tip: This editorial highlights the potential of graphene nanocomposites as a transformative solution for improving air quality in dental clinics. By leveraging graphene’s unique properties, including its antimicrobial activity and high adsorption capacity, these materials offer significant advantages over traditional air purification systems. The study by Ju et al demonstrated the effectiveness of graphene-based air disinfection, paving the way for its broader adoption in clinical practice. However, challenges such as cost, material saturation, and long-term safety must be addressed through continued research to optimize its application in dental and other medical environments.