New method to test tooth enamel discovered
A new technique to assess the state of tooth enamel using lasers has been discovered by a group of researchers in Australia and Taiwan, as stated in the latest issue of Optics Express, the Optical Society’s (OSA) open-access journal.
The method works through the use of a laser, which can measure the mineral content of tooth enamel. This is used to make sure the enamel, which forms the outer layer of a tooth, is upheld in order to protect the inner dentin.
First author on the paper, David Hsiao-Chuan Wang, said: “The ultimate goal is to come up with a quick, efficient, cost-effective, and non-destructive way to evaluate the mineralization of human dental enamel.”
This is a ground-breaking technique, able to test the suppleness of teeth without causing any adverse harm, and will go a long way to identifying signs of tooth decay or cavities as early as possible.
During a person’s lifetime, tooth enamel is lost and replenished on a regular basis. This leads to a balance of tooth enamel, an important necessity if teeth are to remain strong.
If the balance is lost then this can lead to areas of softening on the enamel, known as carious lesions, which are signs of possible tooth decay and cavities. Such an imbalance is typically caused by poor dental hygiene.
Current methods used to assess tooth enamel are limited, which is why this new method is such a significant discovery. The results were gained from tests on extracted teeth, and it is likely to be a few years before we can feel the benefit of such innovative methods.
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