A visit to the dentist is probably one of the most terrifying voluntary experiences you could possibly encounter. The nerves begin to build on the drive and continue during the long wait…as the dentist is always running behind schedule.
An obvious factor for the fearful plight is the fear of having your teeth being drilled to accommodate a filling. Even writing about it gives me the shivers. But scientists may well be on the verge to end the drilling once and for all…I dare say you just got interested in this article.
Scientists at King’s College London have developed a new pain-free tooth-rebuilding technique which does away with fillings and instead encourages teeth to repair themselves.
I here you ask how?
The new treatment, called Electrically Accelerated and Enhanced Remineralisation (EAER), accelerates the natural movement of calcium and phosphate minerals into the damaged tooth.
It first prepares the damaged area of enamel and then uses a tiny electric current to push minerals into the repair site.
Essentially meaning no more need for the terrifying drilling process or those mouth numbing injections whose sole objective is to make you look like a dribbling fool.
Professor Nigel Pitts, from King’s College London’s Dental Institute told the Guardian newspaper, “The way we treat teeth today is not ideal. When we repair a tooth by putting in a filling, that tooth enters a cycle of drilling and refilling as, ultimately, each ‘repair’ fails.
“Not only is our device kinder to the patient and better for their teeth, but it’s expected to be at least as cost-effective as current dental treatments. Along with fighting tooth decay, our device can also be used to whiten teeth.”
So a double win then! Except sadly, It is likely to take about three years before being available. Now you may calculate how many dentist appointments you will still lose sleep over.
