Scientists develop nanorobots to repair teeth without drilling

Indian scientists have developed magnetic nanorobots that can repair teeth without human assistance.

These bots, smaller than a strand of hair, are able to repair teeth by sealing cracks, killing bacteria, and rebuilding enamel, potentially eliminating drilling, fillings, and root canals by working inside microscopic tooth structures.

These robots, which promise to revolutionise dentistry by offering a precise and painless way to restore teeth through advanced nanotechnology, use magnetic guidance to navigate deep into the tunnels of the teeth.

5 risks of teeth whitening you should know

It begins restoring the tooth from within by rebuilding enamel using calcium-phosphate nanoparticles programmed to bond and crystallise like natural enamel.

Once applied, the nanobots assemble new mineral layers that integrate seamlessly with the tooth structure, creating a repair stronger than synthetic fillings.

India’s “CalBots”, also nanobots, in a work published in Advanced Science, can crawl deep into the tunnels of a sensitive tooth and seal them from the inside, offering lasting relief from tooth sensitivity in just one application.

CalBot robots are being developed by scientists at the Indian Institute of Science’s Centre for Nano Science and Engineering (CeNSE).

They can reach depths of up to 300–500 micrometres inside the sensitive tooth. Once they reach their target, they clump together and harden, forming a permanent plug that mimics natural enamel. After just twenty minutes under the magnetic field, imaging showed the tubules were sealed tight with new mineral plugs. No leaks, no gaps.

In trials, nanobots successfully repaired erosion, sensitivity lesions, and enamel thinning — conditions typically treated with drilling, bonding, or invasive procedures.

If successfully commercialised, this innovation could transform global oral healthcare, making treatments faster, more affordable, and accessible—especially in areas with limited dental services.

In the future, a simple oral treatment could activate nanobots to continuously monitor and maintain dental health.

Prof. Ambarish Ghosh, one of the corresponding authors of the study, stated. “This is a compelling demonstration of what nanorobotics can achieve and how they could significantly impact future healthcare. We’re excited to see this work progress toward clinical use.”