New Device could Spell the End for the Dreaded Dentist’s Drill
A new dental device, which fires gas into the mouth, could spell the end of the dreaded dental drill.
The device looks like an electric toothbrush and claims to clean cavities completely in just 30 seconds by using liquid and gas particles to blast dead pulp tissue and destroy bacteria.
News of the device will be welcomed by thousands of nervous patients across the world. Dental anxiety is extremely common and many people feel anxious at the mere thought of the drill, let alone the noise.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed the new device. The team claims that the product prevents pain because, unlike traditional drills, it does not interfere with the nerves in the teeth, which tend to be highly sensitive.
According to research, decay is the second most common illness and more than 8 million cavities are filled in the UK every year. Around a quarter of people suffer from dental anxiety and some people avoid going to the dentist altogether as a result of feeling nervous or worried.
The new innovative device, which is called the non-thermal argon plasma brush, destroys bacteria instantly by firing highly charged particles into the cavity. Researchers also claim that the process is carried out more cleanly, meaning that the new filling is bonded to the tooth more effectively. Studies carried out by the research team show that fillings are up to 60 percent stronger after using the plasma brush.
Researchers say that the device will enable completely painless filling procedures. Trials are due to start in the near future at the University of Tennessee in Memphis. If the trials are successful the brush could be in use by the end of next year.
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