Dental technology has advanced a long way since the days where anyone could grab a pair of pliers, pull out a tooth, and call themselves a dentist. These changes have made the field of dentistry safer, to say the least. But in addition to being safer, the practices used today are more comfortable and can give you a more attractive smile than ever before. However, the field of dentistry has not hit the end of its advancements. Here are three emerging technologies in the dental field that are expected to come out in the near future.
3D-Printed Replacement Teeth
One of the changes expected to enter the field of dentistry is the application of 3D-printing technologies for creating replacement teeth. If you have a cap, bridge, or dental implant, you have already experienced, first-hand, how replacing teeth has become easier with time. At one point, uncomfortable dentures were the only option for men and women who were missing a tooth. It is expected that 3D-printed teeth will soon become an option. For this procedure, your dentist would digitally design the tooth using oral scanning, design it using CAD/CAM software, and print out a 3D composite tooth. This technology is expected to become commonplace models, bridges, crowns, and more.
For patients, this means a shorter wait time for your replacement tooth at the dentist. Today, dentists must mold every tooth manually in a time-consuming process. This technology will not only be quicker and easier, it will also mean that your new tooth will be a perfect match every time.
Buffered Anesthetics
Traditional anesthetics come to your dentist in prepared ampules and have done a fair job in reducing the unpleasantness of certain dental procedures for many years. But you may be familiar with the typical sting and multiple injections that precede the numbness we’ve all come to appreciate. This is due to a couple of chemical reactions that take place during injection. Buffered anesthetics are local anesthetics that have been pre-treated such that these reactions can take place before you’re injected. This can not only remove the initial sting, but also preclude the necessity of multiple injections and reduce the wait time for the desired numbing. Several proprietary ideas for buffering local anesthetics have been introduced, all of which would put buffered anesthetics in the hands of every dentist.
“Sand-Blasting” Silica Drills
Everyone hates having a filling done. Some find the process uncomfortable because of the anesthetic, and others are irritated by the sound of the whirring drill as it cuts into your tooth. “Sand-blasting” silica drills may soon be an option in the field of dentistry. Not only can they be used for filling, this type of abrasion is safe for removing decay on the tooth surface and revealing healthier tooth underneath. It works by using a stream of particles made up of aluminum oxide, silica, or even a baking soda mixture. These are directed at the tooth to remove the particles of decay and are then suctioned away. In the case of these “sand-blasting” drills, a dental dam will need to be worn to prevent the gums and other areas of the mouth from being injured.
For the patient, this means a gentler way to remove decay and cavities from the tooth. It also means more comfort during your dental visits. Finally, it reduces your risk of having a tooth chip or fracture, which is still a risk with traditional dental drilling methods.
If you’re the kind of person who tends to put off dental work, you can rest assured that experiences in dentistry are getting better all the time and schedule that appointment with Orlando Smiles today! Look for these new technologies during your next appointment — replace the dread with curiosity over the latest and greatest technologies and how they’re there to improve your smile, and your life.
Lautaro Martinez is a freelance writer and professional student who contributes articles and insights into the latest emerging technologies and how they will affect your life.