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Health

Bye-Bye to the Dentist’s Drill?

Dec. 22, 2011 4:16pm Liz Klimas

Just in time for Christmas treats, researchers at the University of Missouri have developed what they think may a device that could eliminate the horrifying buzz of a dentist’s drill going in for a cavity.

In a university press release, researchers state that human trials will soon be underway for a “plasma brush,” making painless — not to mention sound-less — fillings a possibility in the future.

Watch how the plasma brush works:

According to the release, it only takes 30 seconds for the plasma brush along with chemical reactions to clean out and disinfect cavities before they are filled:

In addition to the bacteria-killing properties, the “cool flame” from the plasma brush forms a better bond for cavity fillings. The chemical reactions involved with the plasma brush actually change the surface of the tooth, which allows for a strong and robust bonding with the filling material.

In less than 30 seconds, the plasma brush uses chemical reactions to disinfect and clean out cavities for fillings. In addition to the bacteria-killing properties, the “cool flame” from the plasma brush forms a better bond for cavity fillings. The chemical reactions involved with the plasma brush actually change the surface of the tooth, which allows for a strong and robust bonding with the filling material.

[...]

“200 million tooth restorations cost Americans an estimated $50 billion a year, and it is estimated that replacement fillings comprise 75 percent of a dentist’s work. The plasma brush would help reduce those costs,” said Hao Li, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering in the MU College of Engineering. “In addition, a tooth can only support two or three restorations before it must be pulled. Our studies indicate that fillings are 60 percent stronger with the plasma brush, which would increase the filling lifespan. This would be a big benefit to the patient, as well as dentists and insurance companies.”

If all goes well with the human trials beginning at the University of Tennessee-Memphis in 2012, researchers state the plasma brush could be replacing dentists grinding drills as early as 2013.

[H/T Gizmodo]

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Comments (83)

TomFerrari
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 5:56am
Since plasma is just super-heated gasses, and since we have already had plasma welders for decades, I don’t see the need for skepticism.

God’s Hand blesses us with new knowledge, each and every day!

If I am skeptical about anything, I am skeptical this will see the light of day, as it stands to drastically cut into dentists incomes! If it can be marketed to bring MORE patients to the dentist, because of the relative painlessness, THEN, it has a chance. Otherwise, it may be doomed to the fate of the 100mpg carburetors (and other such HIGH MPG VEHICLES) that surface from time to time – bought out by potential competition, then buried away somewhere.

Perhaps we need free patent searches and free patent filings – to promote ingenuity and invention. How many people do you know who had ideas that could never be pursued due to the cost of patent filings? Then, if a patent is not exploited/pursued within x number of years, it would enter the public domain, where others would be free to exploit the technology!
Or, perhaps a charity that does patent searches pro-bono?
(Just thinking out loud.)

RESTORING LOVE – July 26 27 28, Dallas, TX
http://www.meetup.com/MercuryOneHQ
Do you GBTV?

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Mikeramseyjr
Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:55am
It sounds like a scam to get money from the Government

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- PelositheGreat
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 7:59am
  Not really, they will just substitute plasma cutters from Harbor freight……
  
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- c0mm0nsense
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:44am
  Dentists are a scam. Take Care of your teeth and watch what you eat and drink. My kids have never been to a dentist. They all have Beautiful Teeth. Both my wife and I , are full of fillings and went to the dentist every 6 months. I think we paid for a lot of vacations and hunting trips.
  
  Report this comment
- TheWholeTruth
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:36am
  CommonSense. You are correct. Take care of your teeth. You really could eat anything you like and still have healthy teeth. In fact, you don’t even need to brush your teeth! Okay, there is a catch to that last one. Story..true story: My husband’s grandfather never brushed his teeth.. EVER in his LIFE and died with a beautiful full set of his own natural teeth. I know that sounds gross but hear me out. He use to chew on a black gum twig. The chemicals in the twig killed bacteria, stopped the formation of plaque and freshened the breath. The fraying of the twig cleaned the teeth of any food or build up. So really, there’s no need for toothbrushes or fluoride contaminated toothpaste.
  
  Report this comment
- drattastic
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 11:28am
  I suspect my dentist is scamming me when he says I need to come in for a filling, then he uses some numbing gel on a big Q-tip and touches a tooth about 3 times with the drill ,puts a speck of filling on it ,all in about 10 minutes from start to finish . Then charges me and the insurance a few hundred dollars for it. I’m sure this new technique will be 3x as much. I should have been a dentist.
  
  Report this comment
- Tomr
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:11pm
  Don’t be so skeptical of this technology as it has long term promise. Actually it is a spin off of a process developed by Toshiba about 8 years ago call RESET (Refractory Slow Melt Technology). It is used extensively in the fine-china industry for repairing damaged production pieces. In fact, damaged dentures are commonly repaired using this process and is quite cost effective (< 50% of replacements). The only downside is when you talk it sounds like you are loading a dishwashing machine.
  
  Report this comment
- nancienice
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 3:22pm
  Common Sense, Dentists are not a scam. If I knew your address, I’d report you to the child protection agency in your county for neglect. You are ignorant.
  
  Report this comment
- Libertyluvnmomma
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 4:55pm
  NANCIENICE- Dentist are a scam- ours tried to fill cavities in my kids. Went for a second opinion. No cavities. 1 1/2 years later, still No cavities.
  The dentist was going to drill My children….this happens all the time. Have you ever gotten a second dental opinion? Yeah most people don’t.
  
  Cool technology. Dentists in my area still practice out of the dark ages.
  
  Report this comment
- ApatriotZ
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 12:22am
  I’ve pasted a few links below to help everyone use “commonsense” and brush/floss their teeth. While some people are more prone to cavities than others, you shouldn’t be upset with your dentist because your oral hygiene is subpar. We should understand that genetics are tied to oral health just as genetics are tied to cardiac health, diabetes and almost every other health condition. Try not to be angry at your dentist when your xrays come back with news you don’t want to hear… if you’re concerned about getting scammed, get a second opinion and make an educated decision just as you would with a mechanic working on your car. Just because one mechanic gives you a high or inaccurate estimate doesn’t mean that all mechanics are crooks. The majority of people in this country will never enjoy the dental experience, and while it is very invasive and uncomfortable try to appreciate the time and money your dentist invested in treating you… and if your dentist is a jerk, then I would recommend getting a new one.
  
  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001055.htm – medline basics
  http://kidshealth.org/parent/growth/feeding/fluoride_water.html – written for kids so even commonsense can understand this one
  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/oralcancer.html
  
  Report this comment
- docholiday-
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:35am
  “It sounds like a scam to get money from the Government”
  -does this really make sense to you? is this what you believe is happening? of all the faults with government, you feel this is the last straw?
  
  Report this comment
- docholiday-
  Posted on December 24, 2011 at 1:50am
  “NANCIENICE- Dentist are a scam- ours tried to fill cavities in my kids. Went for a second opinion. No cavities. 1 1/2 years later, still No cavities.
  The dentist was going to drill My children”
  
  uh, no he was going to “drill” teeth that he felt needed repair
  
  “….this happens all the time. Have you ever gotten a second dental opinion? Yeah most people don’t.”
  
  how can it happen all the time? if you go for a second opinion would not the 2nd dentist also try to fill cavities that weren’t there? that would equate to happening all the time…therefore by your flawed logic, all dentists would diagnose exactly the same. Hmmm…..
  
  “Cool technology. Dentists in my area still practice out of the dark ages.”
  
  Such extremes within one sentence. Do you live in a location where all occupations practice in ‘the dark ages’? If so, what is your occupation or level of education? It may explain your level of understanding of dentistry and health medicine in general. I would suggest moving to a location where you feel ‘cool technology’ prevails. Then, I would suggest further research, because not all ‘cool technology’ is ‘true technology’ or even practical. It is assumed that dentists are to use the latest technology but not charge adequately for it? Then you must want ‘space age’ treatment for ‘dark ages’ pricing…how typical.
  
  Report this comment
JustPeachy
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 11:36pm
Dentistry has come a LONG way just in the past 10-20 years, so I’m not surprised at all how it is advancing. And while there are bad dentists out there, finding a good one isn’t that hard to do–ask around. Do research–use the Internet! I found a great dentist after seeing one for many years because we moved several states away. Most offer “pain free” dentistry nowadays anyway–and it really IS pain free.

It’s worth the 6-month trips!

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- oldoldtimer
  Posted on December 26, 2011 at 10:49am
  Do not be suckered into having your teeth sealed. It is a scam. My son had no cavities ever until he got the sealer. In 6 months he started having cavities. They sealed in bacttria and food particles that cause the decay. There is no way to remove the sealer.
  
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conservativewoman
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 11:17pm
I always thought dentistry needed a lot of improvement. Finally there is some!

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- ghostsouls
  Posted on December 22, 2011 at 11:27pm
  I have had odontophobia for as long as I can remember. This I think wil make me go to the dentist, just got to hold out until 2013 lol.
  
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- Conservativeman
  Posted on December 22, 2011 at 11:27pm
  Dentists won’t like this, half their business lost. Unless they find a way for the brush to reshape teeth. Missouri is where the toothbrush was named and invented; Kansas had a teethbrush but the one tooth wonders of the show me state won out on their name for it.
  
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- c0mm0nsense
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:05am
  Conservativeman
  Where did you hear that one from? The toothbrush has been around for thousands of years. lol your funny.
  
  Report this comment
- HorseCrazy
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:43pm
  @Ghostsouls get your dentist to gove you some valium. Got me over the fear of sitting there and having my mouth drilled. sedation dentistry is also a good choice. Dont put it off too long you will end up with a giant dental bill
  
  Report this comment
WhatTheHuh
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 10:15pm
“Is it safe?”

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wisehiney
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 8:25pm
They take the fun out of everything.

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- RightThinking1
  Posted on December 22, 2011 at 8:53pm
  That’s OK, I can still crank up my Dremel tool if I get nostalgic. Honestly, the thing gives me the creeps every time I turn it on.
  
  Report this comment
- QuietBeige
  Posted on December 22, 2011 at 9:02pm
  Nice! Got a big smile out of me!
  
  Report this comment
- Tomr
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:53pm
  Rightthinking1
  
  Thanks alot man. I never made the connection of my Dremel and denistry…until now. Just wanted to let you know you rouined my day. LOL
  
  Report this comment
captain_errol
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 7:15pm
Am I misreading the article? It does not do away with the DRILL. Only cleans and disinfects. Drill will still be there. It only makes the filling adhere longer after tooth is drilled..

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- voiceofreason305
  Posted on December 22, 2011 at 7:55pm
  Yes. You are totally misreading the article.
  
  Report this comment
Bill Wallace
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 7:09pm
Do you know what “virtual” means? It means “not really”.

So “virtually painless” means “not really painless.”

Oh. What a relief. Here I thought they were saying this new device would eliminate the pain of a dentist…wait…that IS what they are claiming…or trying to claim.

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- captjack63
  Posted on December 22, 2011 at 7:19pm
  Maybe painless till you get the bill.Painless dental work is like flame retardent material,(dosen’t mean it won’t burn,just means it don’t want to) lol
  
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koyettsu
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 7:00pm
That is awesome, about time someone figured out how to make people not hate the dentist.

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- notmeatglennbeckdotcom
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 4:44am
  Wait ’til you get the bill – you’ll still HATE the dentist!
  
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- Bryancpe
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 6:00pm
  My dentist doesn’t use a drill for cavities. He uses a tool that is similar to a micro sand blaster. It doesn’t hurt from my experience.
  
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Jenny Lind
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 5:49pm
Allelujah!

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wbalzley
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 5:42pm
“sawn”? Wow, I really need to check my spelling before posting…

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THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 5:27pm
This won’t help the pockets of the Dentists.

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- sonseeker
  Posted on December 22, 2011 at 6:11pm
  Ahhhh….yes it will, now I will actually keep my appointments
  
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- JimmyP
  Posted on December 22, 2011 at 6:54pm
  Yes, and you can Bet Barry will claim that this is the cause of massive layoffs that structurally altered the job market and made his job so much more difficult. Poor baby!
  
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- duskerhu
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 3:50am
  That would be what we now know to be “more head-winds than we anticipated…”
  
  Report this comment
- nancienice
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 3:20pm
  …and if it did, what would be wrong with that? It’s called capitalism. Those who take risks with their own capital, who are innovative, and care about the comfort of their patients shouldn’t make a profit. It is a myth that dentists are “rich” and “scammers.” I’m a dentist hanging by my fingernails to stay afloat while this economy takes its toll. I work my ass off, give a lot away, and enjoy giving to others. That’s what it’s all about.
  
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Tivadoc
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 5:15pm
Eliminating the skull vibrating and whine of a dental “drill” would be a welcome change. If you could get people to actually brush their teeth twice a day and use dental floss every day, you could reduce the amount of decay people develop 90%. Go see the dentist every 6 months and get your teeth cleaned, then they can find problems when they are small and painless to repair. By the time you have dental pain it’s going to be very expensive to fix or extract.

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- wbalzley
  Posted on December 22, 2011 at 5:41pm
  COUNTER OPINION: I sawn a study on seemed to indicate that tooth-brushing had less impact on cavities than genetics and diet. Some people are born with hard enamel that is resistant to decay, and others are born with soft enamel that decays easily. Brushing DOES help, but not as much as people think it does.
  
  If we focus on hardening enamel rather than cleaning the dirt, we may prevent more cavities.
  
  Report this comment
- 4xeverything
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 4:47am
  When I was pregnant with my twins, I had to be on an extremely strict diet due to gestational diabetes, which is common with twins. What they didn’t tell me was that because of this diet, what the twins didn’t receive from the food that I injested they would just take from my body in spades. Two years after they were born, my first tooth was extracted. I’ve now lost count of how many teeth I’ve either had pulled or had drilled out.
  
  P.S. I brush twice a day and floss.
  
  Report this comment
schroeder123
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 5:02pm
You will get Plasma breath.

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SquishyBear
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 5:00pm
very cool! no novacaine either I hope!

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- John 1776
  Posted on December 22, 2011 at 5:24pm
  I suspect you will still need that. Quiet, but probably the same nerve stimulation.
  
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- DrFrost
  Posted on December 22, 2011 at 5:37pm
  You’re still removing enamel and dentin (OUCH) so I’m confident you’re going to need xylocaine (or whatever dentists are using these days).
  
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Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 4:54pm
Good news. Bad dentists create bad fillings with gaps and one ends up going in to keep filling the same spots, back and forth. One bad experience with a dentist when I was young and it has ruined me with dentists for life.
To quote Bill Cosby “you are sitting there and you see and smell SMOKE coming from your mouth!”

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Todd94590
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 4:32pm
no more nitrous oxide? darn…. [sarcasm, folks]

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ReaganBaby
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 4:31pm
Good thing this discovery came before Obamacare now lets pray we will have the chance to see this technology hit the market before the FDA says otherwise or the Administration determines its cheaper to pull the tooth than to fill the cavity.

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- nancienice
  Posted on December 23, 2011 at 3:30pm
  Dentistry is not included in Obamacare.
  
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Countrygirl1362
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 4:31pm
Sounds good. Would like to know more about the chemical reactions.

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V-MAN MACE
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 4:28pm
Nice.

Now help me build a Lightsaber.

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Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 4:26pm
Interesting potential here.

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Jake Dog2
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 4:26pm
With my fangs you know I WILL LOVE IT. LOL

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Bonnieblue2A
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 4:25pm
Hey Blaze, I suspect this innovation came from the University of Missouri Dental School, not simply the University of Missouri.

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- OneTermPresident
  Posted on December 22, 2011 at 4:56pm
  Research Dept.. Not where they teach Dentistry.
  
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pap pap
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 4:19pm
Can’t wait
.

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thegreatcarnac
Posted on December 22, 2011 at 4:19pm
Good!

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- Welcome Black Carter
  Posted on December 22, 2011 at 5:17pm
  Another headline that has nothing to do with the story. This is used AFTER the drilling.
  
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- TBinSTL
  Posted on December 22, 2011 at 5:23pm
  Don’t worry, “Big Drill” is already figuring out how to kill this….
  
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- SistaTriscuit
  Posted on December 22, 2011 at 5:58pm
  Welcome Black Carter, where do you see that it’s used AFTER the drilling? The video makes it pretty explicit that the plasma brush will be in used INSTEAD of a drill.
  
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