Goodbye Dentist Drill; Hello Plasma Jets?

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Dental News
A newly developed "Plasma Jet" device would be a painless and far more effective weapon against tooth decay-causing bacteria than the traditional dentist's drill, according to a new study set to be published in the February issue of the Journal of Medical Microbiology.

Firing low temperature plasma beams at dentin (the fibrous tooth structure underneath the enamel coating) was found to reduce the amount of dental bacteria by up to 10,000-fold. The findings could mean plasma technology is used to remove infected tissue in tooth cavities, a practice that conventionally involves drilling into the tooth.

Scientists at the Leibniz-Institute of Surface Modifications in Leipzig, Germany and dentists from the Saarland University, Homburg, Germany, tested the effectiveness of plasma jets against common the most common types of bacteria found on the surface of teeth which erode tooth enamel and the dentin below it to cause cavities. If left untreated, these bacteria types usually lead to pain, tooth loss and sometimes severe gum infections.

Dr Stefan Rupf from Saarland University who led the research said using plasma technology to disinfect tooth cavities would be welcomed by patients as well as dentists. "Drilling is a very uncomfortable and sometimes painful experience. Cold plasma, in contrast, is a completely contact-free method that is highly effective. The low temperature means they can kill the microbes while preserving the tooth. The dental pulp at the centre of the tooth, underneath the dentin, is linked to the blood supply and nerves and heat damage to it must be avoided at all costs."

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