According to a recent study, as many as 75 percent of the American population has intentionally put off a dental appointment or procedure because of their fear around a drill or a needle.
If huge numbers of people are suffering in silence and not getting the care they need, there could be all kinds of consequences. We know, for example, that oral health is a very good indicator of overall physical health. We are seeing dental developments and innovations that are moving forward at rapid rates that could end drilling and needles while ensuring improved patient comfort and results.
In the last few years, groundbreaking studies on stem cells have allowed scientists to grow new teeth entirely from scratch. We now have laser technologies that can vaporize the decay around a tooth, without the need for extensive drilling. We can 3D print bridgework and crowns, so that they perfectly match the mouths of patients. It is a brave new world out there for dentistry!
The latest innovation set to change the way dentists repair our teeth is electrically accelerated and enhanced remineralization (EAER). According to scientists, EAER techniques are so promising because they have the potential to make the dental drill completely redundant for all but the most intricate of fillings and root work.
So, the big question is, What does EAER do? How could it be used to replace the need for drilling? Well, to grasp the basics, it is important to understand a little about why dental cavities form. The typical cavity is the result of plaque (from sugary foods) sticking to the tooth enamel and eating it away. While human teeth do have certain self-generating properties, this process actually happens too slowly to combat tooth decay.
Ordinarily, the solution for a cavity is a filling. This involves removing the most badly damaged areas of the tooth and replacing them with an amalgam or composite resin material. The only problem is that a drill needs to be used to remove the decayed sections, and the majority of patients panic at the mere thought. What EAER does is speed up the natural remineralization of the enamel.
This might sound too good to be true, but with EAER technology, tiny minerals are pushed deep into the tooth using very small (and completely painless) electric currents. These currents then accelerate its inherent regeneration capabilities. The end result is quite remarkable. Without introducing any kind of foreign element or material into the mouth, the cavity starts to shrink and close. EAER is currently undergoing crowdfunding in order to make this available to the public. Be on the lookout—this will revolutionize dentistry!
Source: Jonathan Richter, DDS, FAGD, of Cardiodontal (310 E. Shore Rd., Ste. 101, Great Neck). For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 516-282-0310 or visit Cardiodontal.com.
