Slashdot Mirror
Plasma Jets Could Replace Dental Drills
Hugh Pickens writes "The first electric dental drill was patented in 1875; modern drills grind the diseased portions of teeth away at up to 500,000 rpm. But dentists have been seeking less invasive ways of wiping out stubborn, tooth-decaying bacteria. Now Live Science reports that bacteria-killing jets of plasma could soon replace the drills used to treat cavities in our teeth. Researchers recently demonstrated that a small, blowtorch-like device emitting a relatively cool beam of purple plasma could eliminate oral bacteria in cavities, leaving more tooth structure intact than a drill does. To test how well 'cold' plasma jets (about 100F or 38C) sterilize tooth material, researchers took slices of dentin from extracted human molars, doused them with bacteria, and torched them with the plasma jet. An inspection via a scanning electron microscope of the damage done to the germs shows bacterial remnants had holes in their cell walls. When the plasma jet fires, it charges oxygen in the surrounding air, creating highly reactive molecules that can break down the bacteria's defenses. Researchers believe the technique could be available to general dentistry in three to five years."
"Researchers believe the technique could be available to general dentistry in three to five years."
COME ON, guys, my appointment is on the 22nd. Hurry!
o hai
It could unleash a whole evil dental underworld.
I hate being bipolar; it's awesome!
Do you ever wonder how they think up this stuff. Some researcher is sitting around drinking coffee thinking, "Hey, I wonder what would happen if you blasted a cavity with plasma?" How do you even think of questions like that without being stoned?
Then I started wondering if I'm going to be hearing my dentist going, "Pew! Pew! Pew!"
That's our life, the big wheel of shit. - The Fat Man, Blue Tango Salvage
http://adsoftheworld.com/files/images/dunecdentistopen.jpg
He said for deeper work they use a laser.
That sounds awesome, but I'm a bit confused: how do they fit the whole shark inside your mouth?
Genetically modified pico-sharks, you ninny.
Every mans' island needs an ocean; choose your ocean carefully.
Make you hate when xkcd is right at something.
I'f tried. No it ishn't.
Sorry, but gray text on gray background is making my eyes bleed.
That only happens if you somehow come back from a planet while wearing red.
Remember RFC 873!
We still need to brush our teeth to avoid calculus buildup and bad breath
Rationally speaking, brushing a minima of three times a day is integral to good oral hygeine.
rimshot();
This adds a whole new layer of meaning when your Dentist goes "Whoops!"
Democrats or Republicans. They are both taking us to the same place and they are not afraid of us anymore.