A new laser has been developed to help reduce the amount of time patients have to spend in the dentist’s chair when having a cavity treated.
The new waterlase system acts to both repair decay and also to partially numb the tooth prior to filling, making it easier and quicker for the dentist to carry out the procedure.
"When you have a cavity, the softness of that cavity contains more water so when you’re using the laser it seeks out the water and blasts that cavity away until you have a more solid tooth structure," said Dr Loan Mao.
He added that the system could be especially useful for helping children get over any fears relating to having a problem tooth looked at.
Elsewhere, New Jersey dentist Dr Nicolas Elian recently noted the developments with robot technology could one day lead to these automatons replacing human dentists.
However, he noted this is unlikely to happen in the near future, as technology could not replace the years of experience built up by dental professionals in dealing with their patients.