The days of the dreaded dental drill might soon be over.  A laser that treats tooth decay, using a painless beam of light, is about to make its way onto the dentistry scene.  The laser will enable dentists to use less, or even no anesthetics when performing procedures – and it can even trim gums and sterilize infections without the necessity of Novocain.

Known as the Waterlase MD Turbo, the laser will speed up most dental procedures.  Tariq Idris, one of the first dentists to use the laser in the UK, explains that “lasers have been used in some areas of dentistry for a few years but they haven’t been fast enough to replace the drill.  This has changed all that. Now a laser can be used to remove tooth decay and prepare cavities and crowns.”

According to Mail Online Health, the laser is very gentle, and no anesthetics are needed for most procedures.  The light is shined on the effected tooth and a spray of water passes into in to the mouth, but there is absolutely no grinding or harsh contact with teeth.  The laser can also easily disinfect problem teeth, as the Waterlase MD Turbo reportedly killed 99.7% of all bacteria in an article published by the American Dental Association.

The laser works by releasing high speed, pulsing beans of light.  Different frequency models will have different effects, as some will burn through tissues, while others will be used exclusively to kill bacteria within the mouth.  “You can use the laser to prepare a cavity and then clean a patient’s gums,” says Idris, who believes that laser treatments will cost just about 15% more than today’s standard dental procedures.  He went on to say that the laser also “offers the first permanent cure for sensitive teeth, by “sealing” the layer of exposed dentine that is the cause of tooth sensitivity.”

Dental implants and root canal treatments are the two main areas where patients will benefit, Idris believes.  In explaining this, he states that “in root-canal work, dentists need to drill into the root and insert an antibiotic dressing for several weeks before filling it.  With laser treatment you can cut the cavity, disinfect the root and fill it in a single session.”  This inevitably will make root canal procedures much faster, less uncomfortable, and more efficient with regards to results.  The laser can even benefit patients looking for dental implants – which typically must be prepared a year in advance.  Using the new laser technology, implant procedures can be completed in about a day’s time – from removing the tooth,  o drilling the bone, and ultimately installing the tooth implant.

Though the Waterlase MD Turbo has many uses and applications, it will not replace the drill completely.  It cannot yet remove old fillings, and with a very hefty price tag, it will likely be some time before the laser technology is available in most dental practices.