Patients who are terrified by the dentist’s drill could feel more comfortable about undergoing dental treatment thanks to a new invention from the technicians at King’s College London. Researchers have developed a tooth-rebuilding treatment that could be available in as little as three years; the treatment requires no injections and should be able to provide pain-free dental repair for decay and damaged teeth.
The new system, called Electrically Accelerated and Enhanced Remineralisation (EAER) helps the minerals of the tooth to repair and regrow after they have been damaged by decay. This means that amalgam or composite resin will no longer be needed after the decayed minerals of the affected tooth have been removed. EAER is a two-step process that involves preparing the damaged enamel to shift the minerals in the outer layer into the places where they are needed to repair the tooth, using an electrical current – the technique can also be used to whiten teeth and research is continuing into this area.
Professor Nigel Pitts, from the university’s Dental Institute, said that the current way to treat decay is ‘not ideal’, as the filling treatment is not permanent and ‘the tooth enters a cycle of drilling and re-filling.’ He added that ‘Not only is our device kinder to the patient and better for the teeth, but it’s expected to be at least as cost-effective as current dental treatments.’