3 New Technologies That Redefine Fillings

Very few people would say that they enjoy getting cavities filled. Even if you have minor fillings that require no anesthetic to be filled, the sound of the drill and preparation of the filling material can be enough to make you squirm. However, in the near future, you may have little or no reason to avoid your yearly check up. With modern technology, cavities are becoming easier to care for in a painless, efficient manner. If you dread your next filling, you should check out these three new technologies that could make traditional fillings a thing of the past. 

Electrically Accelerated And Enhanced Remineralisation (EAER)

Did you know that, just like bones, your teeth have the ability to remineralise themselves? This means that you can have a weak spot in your enamel or a full-blown cavity that your body can naturally heal, under the right circumstances. 

Usually, the right circumstances include a diet high in calcium and phosphate and regular cleaning of the affected area. Recently, many people have taken to oil pulling with coconut oil to help remineralise their teeth. While oil pulling is a traditionally tested method for remineralisation, dentists and the scientific community have opted to concentrate on removing the decay around a cavity and filling it with synthetic material rather than regrow the actual tooth. 

Recently, remineralisation has become a possibility in the dental office with the new electrically accelerated and enhanced remineralisation method. This method requires no drilling. Instead, it uses electrical current to encourage teeth to remineralise on their own. This will not only result in pain-free treatment, but it will also strengthen your teeth in the long run. 

Laser Drills 

Lasers have replaced drills in many dental offices. They are used the same way a drill would be used, to cut away the decay in a tooth and prepare for a filling. However, many dentists claim that lasers reduce the pain associated with drilling and can be more precise than a drill, resulting in less natural tooth being lost during a filling. Lasers also sterilize the tooth as they cut away the decay, which can make your procedure faster and reduce your risk of infection.

While no in-depth studies have been conducted to prove that lasers are better for your teeth than drills, it has been shown that laser fillings usually involve little or no pain. This means that fillings without anesthetic are an option, which will save you both money and time at the dentist's office. 

Additionally, most lasers can be used on both hard tissue and soft tissue. This means that while your dentist is working on filling a cavity, he or she can also quickly trim your gums to enhance your smile. 

Graphene Oxide 

Of course, prevention is the best method of treatment. At the moment, many strains of bacteria, including some that cause tooth decay and gum disease, are becoming resistant to antibiotics. However, a recent discovery has shown that carbon nanosheets studded with oxygen groups can effectively kill decay-causing bacteria. This type of treatment will probably be prescribed for more severe cases of gum disease and tooth decay, rather than everyday treatment, but it will greatly reduce dentistry's dependence on antibiotics and there may be more general applications of this technology in the future. 

While most dental offices will continue to offer traditional fillings for years to come, it is worth asking your dentist whether he or she plans to offer one of these newer technologies in the near future. With advances in dental technology, fillings should be painless and the preservation of your natural tooth should be your dentist's primary concern. For more information, visit a website like http://www.cretzmeyer.com.


Share