Hate having your teeth drilled? Good news: Researchers say pain-free plasma jets, which fire low-temperature plasma beams at teeth, may soon send dental drills to the scrap heap.
Sound too sci-fi? It kind of is: Plasma is the fourth state of matter, the other three being solid, liquid and gas. But European dentists have been getting great results with the devices and find that when they aim plasma beams at dentin -- the boney part of the tooth located beneath the enamel -- bacteria can be eradicated without any damage to your teeth!
"Plasma jets can eliminate the bacteria that causes tooth decay using a procedure in which the patient experiences no pain,” says Dr. Arnold Tyrangel, founding partner of Great Neck and Mid-Island Dental Associates in Great Neck, N.Y.
Unfortunately, however, we’re stuck with the drill for a while longer, he says: “Plasma jets are not likely to be seen in routine dental practice for at least five years."
But it’s good to know they’re coming, so if you have a painful procedure to undergo, just hang on a little longer!
Photo Credit: @iStockphoto.com/Brzi
