Dentists (such as Dr. James A. Dempsey) are getting better at fixing teeth with all of the technological advancements that are being made. With these tools, teeth are healthier and more beautiful than ever before. The basics of dental work comes down to dental procedures that help to restore and fix teeth. The most common complaint with dental work is the pain that it involves, thanks to all the nerves in the teeth. Lasers and a treatment that isn't available quite yet called Electrically Accelerated and Enhanced Remineralisation (EAER) show how dental work is becoming better all the time.

Lasers

The best thing about lasers is that they are very effective at treating dental problems. They have been used since 1994 and the FDA has approved the use of lasers in dentistry, but the ADA has not given their stamp of approval. Some dentists are still using these tools to help out in their practices because they have seen benefits that they can't get from their other tools. Some benefits to using lasers in dentistry are:

  • Less pain
  • Better shape gums
  • Remove bacteria from infected areas
  • Better remove lesions
  • Faster curing or hardening fillings
  • Reduces amounts of anesthesia needed
  • Replaces drilling in some instances
  • Can help minimize bleeding and swelling of soft tissue

Lasers are still being experimented with, so many more discoveries are likely going to be found. However, the results are looking good for those who don't like experiencing dental pain.

Electrically Accelerated and Enhanced Remineralization

Scientists at King's College London are hoping that drilling and injections will soon be a thing of the past. With the use of this new technique, teeth can repair themselves, even after a cavity has already occurred. This is a two step process that prepares the tooth before using tiny electric currents to move calcium and phosphate minerals into the cavity. The minerals are then used to repair the cavity without the need to use drills or composite resin to fill the space.

The scientists hoping to have this treatment available as soon as three years. They are going to continue doing research and perfecting the system. The end goal with this process is that the patients are treated better and experience less pain. More than that though, this can help to fight tooth decay and even whiten teeth. This device is something definitely worth keeping an eye on. With any luck, it will be available outside of Europe too.

Share