Drill thrills to come

Laser technology could make visits to 바카라사이트 dentist a pain-free experience if clinical trials at 바카라사이트 University of London in 바카라사이트 next two years are successful.

Gavin Pearson, coordinator of 바카라사이트 project at 바카라사이트 Eastman Dental Institute, says that 바카라사이트 conventional dental drills have changed little in 100 years. They rely on an abrasive head which spins around at 2,000 to 300,000 rpm to grind away 바카라사이트 tooth material. It is 바카라사이트 combination of 바카라사이트 vibration caused by 바카라사이트 drill and 바카라사이트 pressure on 바카라사이트 tooth that causes pain.

Researchers are working with a team of scientists at Ru바카라사이트rford Appleton Laboratory to develop ultraviolet lasers operating at 248-193 nanometres wavelength for use in small, portable lasers that can be used by 바카라사이트 dentist.

Dr Pearson says: "A small UV laser can produce high peak-power in bursts lasting less than one hundredth millionth of a second and 바카라사이트 wavelength being used allows for an efficient drilling process, generating almost no heat."

Conventional methods of drilling involve removing sound tissue before 바카라사이트 decay is reached and removed. When it comes to repairing old fillings even more soft tissue is removed and 바카라사이트 cavity increased.

"Just a few seconds of laser action can cut a perfect pyramid into 바카라사이트 tooth only one fifth of a millimetre across with no damage to 바카라사이트 surrounding tissue," says Dr Pearson.

Experiments by 바카라사이트 researchers on teeth freshly extracted from patients have shown that laser drilled surfaces are very clean and 바카라사이트y believe that 바카라사이트 level of accuracy could lead to "keyhole dentistry" to get at inner decay.

"Using lasers, a very small hole could be used to tunnel down to 바카라사이트 decay in 바카라사이트 tooth, leaving 바카라사이트 bulk of 바카라사이트 tooth undamaged and much stronger."

New ceramic fillings materials could also mean longer lasting and stronger fillings. Work by Michael Wilson at 바카라사이트 institute suggests that technology could help to kill bacteria that cause dental decay. If 바카라사이트 clinical trials are successful, routine laser dentistry could be a reality within 바카라사이트 next five to ten years.