Painless Plasma Jets May Replace Dental Drills
January 24th, 2010
People who live with dental phobia or have a fear of the dentist’s drill could be in for a more comfortable future - new plasma technology for dental care.
Plasma jets that remove tooth decay-causing bacteria could be an effective and less painful alternative to the dentist’s drill, German researchers said.
Firing low temperature plasma beams at dentin – the fibrous tooth structure underneath the enamel coating - was found to cut the amount of dental bacteria by up to 10,000 times.
Tests reported in the Journal of Medical Microbiology found the plasma destroyed bacteria in infected teeth.
Scientists at the Leibniz-Institute of Surface Modifications and dentists from Saarland University zapped common oral pathogens including Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei with a plasma jet for 6, 12 or 18 seconds.
The longer the dentin was exposed to the plasma, the more bacteria were eliminated.
These bacteria form films on the surface of teeth and are capable of eroding tooth enamel and the dentin below it to cause cavities. If left untreated it can lead to pain, tooth loss and sometimes severe gum infections, the researchers say.
While there are many natural forms of plasma, including the contents of our sun and lightning, modern technology relies heavily on plasma technology - for example in fluorescent lighting and the manufacture of semiconductors.
Dr Stefan Rupf from Saarland University said that the recent development of cold plasmas of around 40 degrees Celsius showed great promise for use in dentistry.
“Drilling is a very uncomfortable and sometimes painful experience. Cold plasma, in contrast, is a completely contact-free method that is highly effective.”
They say plasma dentistry may be available within three to five years.
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Categories: Dental News
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