Gel Could Save Patients From The Dreaded Dental Drill
Gel made from the papaya tree could save patients from the dreaded dental drill. The gel, which is made from a compound found in the fruit and leaves of the tree, dissolves decay, meaning that patients may not need to be subjected to the drill.
The gel takes just one minute to dissolve decay in a completely painless process, which will prevent patients from undergoing the agonising experience of the dental drill. For many patients, the sound of the drill is enough to make them feel very anxious.
Once the gel has dissolved the decayed tissue, it is wiped away, the tooth is cleaned and the cavity can then be filled. The gel is currently undergoing clinical trials in Brazil.
Figures from the NHS reveal that tooth decay is one of the most common public health problems in the UK, despite the fact that it is preventable. Decay occurs when the protective tooth enamel is worn away or damaged as a result of harmful plaque acids, which are released by bacteria.
At the moment, dentists use the drill to remove decayed tooth tissue before filling a cavity, but this could be a thing of the past, if the painless gel is approved by drug administrators.
The gel is based on papain, a compound form in papaya fruit and the leaves of the papaya tree. Papayas grow in hot climates and can be found in Brazil and Hawaii.
Early studies on the gel, which were carried out at Brazil’s Nove de Julho University, revealed very positive results.
Hugh Devlin, professor of Restorative Dentistry at the University of Manchester, said that the research project was very interesting and the treatment could potentially be very “useful”, especially for treating young children. He added that further research is required.
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