Bioinformatics: A new arsenal in dental sciences

Abstract

Bioinformatics is an emerging field that focuses on using information science to solve biological problems. It is mainly concerned with collecting, storing, retrieving and analysing data from databases. In the last decade it has catalysed the research in the field of healthcare to a great extent. Bioinformatics can aid the research in dentistry by understanding the underlying pathways and mechanisms in certain oral diseases. It can also help in early prediction and personalized treatment of cancer. Application of Bioinformatics in drug design has been a boon to the pharmaceutical companies reducing the time required to develop a novel drug. It can also assist in developing patient care databases, image Processing of X-rays and CT can supplement the diagnosis. In this era of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, incorporation of these technologies into dental sciences can improve the research, diagnosis and treatment to a great extent.