Revealed: The miracles set to transform tooth care
Revealed: The miracles set to transform tooth care
By Lucy Elkins
Last updated at 12:18 AM on 04th November 2008
For anyone who's scared of the dentist, the future looks bright. Professor Nairn Wilson, head of the Dental Institute at King's College, London, says: 'There are things in the pipeline that will revolutionise the way we care for our teeth.' Here, he helps LUCY ELKINS discover what could be in place in the dentist's surgery within the next few years.
Breath of air to banish the drill
The conventional drill with its horrible whine is perhaps the thing people fear most about going to the dentist. The good news is that scientists are close to launching a new way of cutting and polishing teeth, using a blast of air.
The problem with the conventional drill is that a healthy tooth can be removed as well, while the drilling itself can be painful. It can also strip off the protective enamel layer, leading to sensitivity.
Researchers at King's College University Dental Institute have developed a 'drill' that uses a stream of air to blast out particles of glass powder. These gently file and seal the tooth material so there is no risk of future sensitivity.
Different-sized particles can be used depending on the task. As a decayed tooth is softer than a healthy tooth, using the right-size particle means only the decay is removed. This system could also be used to remove stains from teeth.
Available: Within a year.
Grow-your-own replacement teeth
After the age of 50, the average Briton can expect to lose 12 teeth. While these can be replaced with dentures or a crown, both can prove uncomfortable. The only other option is costly implants.
Researchers hope that within ten years we will be able to grow new teeth from stem cells - the so-called master cells which have the potential to be used to grow any part of the body.
Scientists have successfully harvested stem cells from dental pulp - the nerves and tissue inside the teeth - and grown teeth in the lab which have been transplanted into mice. Scientists in Japan, the U.S. and the UK hope to use the same technology for humans.
'In simple terms, you put a nick in the gum, put the stem cells in, and start the growth with a trigger of chemicals that are found naturally in the body,' says Professor Nairn Wilson. It's unlikely to be a quick fix, as it could take two months or more to regrow a tooth from scratch.
Available: Seven to ten years.
A mouthwash instead of fillings
A mouthwash will soon do away with the need for fillings. Researchers at Leeds Dental Institute have developed a protein liquid which can infiltrate even the tiniest holes in teeth. Once in the mouth, it starts to form a jelly which attracts minerals that the body uses to harden teeth and bones.
Holes are easily and painlessly filled to become as good as new. The scientists hope it might last as long as a tooth would.
'We're painting it onto teeth, but we hope soon to adapt it into a mouthwash,' says Professor Jennifer Kirkham. 'As well as filling in holes, it might also cover healthy teeth with a beneficial extra layer. Initially it would be used by dentists, but could eventually be used at home.'
Available: Three to five years.
Fluoride implant for children
Children could soon be fitted with a tiny implant which releases small amounts of fluoride, protecting their teeth from decay. Developed by scientists at Leeds Dental Institute, the implant is about the size of half a pea and is made from extra strong glass. A tiny bracket is glued onto one of the back teeth and the implant slotted in.
Fluoride blended into the glass is released as the glass slowly dissolves in the saliva. Each bead lasts two years and can be simply replaced.
'Ideally, the device would be fitted around the age of six, when the first adult teeth come through, and used until age 14,' says Professor Monty Dougall, who helped develop the implant. 'At this age, the risk of decay reduces as children become more responsible about their teeth-cleaning habits and diet.'
Available: Within a year.
Super-strong invisible braces
Improved invisible' braces are being developed to straighten crooked teeth much faster than metal 'train tracks' or the invisible braces currently available.
Conventional braces work by exerting pressure on one side of the gum, prompting the bone to break down. On the other side of the gum, the lack of force stimulates cells to build new bone. This helps 'open' up the jaw, allowing the teeth to move and realign.
However, the braces exert such force that initially this closes the tiny blood vessels which carry messages to the bone cells to do their work. It can take months for them to reopen and for the movement process to start.
Metal braces exert 15g of force, but just 10g is actually needed to move teeth. Technological advances mean the new braces exert this smaller degree of force.
These new appliances will be as efficient as, and possibly faster than, the metal ones, while being invisible and available to adults and children,' says orthodontist Andrew McCance of University College London.
Available: Within three years.
Magic wand to conquer cavities
Scientists at Leeds Dental Institute have developed a mouthwash which could take the place of the toothbrush. It's made of a substance which is not harmful to humans but is toxic to the bacterial cells in the mouth which cause decay.
When you swill the mouthwash it is harmless, but when a small wand-like light is shone at it, the molecules in the mouthwash change slightly and become toxic to the bacteria, destroying them.
'Studies are ongoing into how often you need to use it, and if it's best used alone or as well as a brush,' says research director Professor Kirkham.
Available: Within two years.
Perfect crowns in an instant
Most people needing a crown - an artificial cap that fits over an existing tooth damaged by decay or injury - have two sessions at the dentist. First, the dentist takes an impression of the teeth using a rubber mould. This is sent to a laboratory, where the new crown is made by a technician and installed a week or two later.
A new computer system allows a dentist to take a 3D picture of the site that needs to be filled. This is transferred within seconds to another computer, which generates the design needed to fill the space. A robot then drills the crown out of a piece of material such as porcelain.
'The whole process takes a matter of minutes and can be done while the patient waits in the chair,' says Professor Wilson.
Available: Now.
Sealing spray for sensitive teeth
Sensitive teeth cause severe discomfort when exposed to hot or cold food and drink. Sensitivity strikes when the dentine (the softer layer underneath the outer enamel) is exposed, in turn exposing the nerves. It often occurs as a result of brushing your teeth too hard, or receding gums.
Special toothpaste can help, as can a varnish painted on by dentists, but this can take several applications. Researchers at King's College are working on a spray which could be applied to seal up the exposed dentine.
Available: Five to ten years.
And finally... the robo-dentist
Robots are being developed to take on the role of dentists when undertaking procedures such as putting in implants. This allows greater accuracy, as the work can be planned on the computer with the aid of scans, and the robot can then be programmed to work in the exact spot needed.
'The technology exists, and it is definitely a possibility that could be in place by 2020,' says Wimpole Street dentist Andrew Dawood.
'It will make implants more accessible, as currently only specialists put them in. With robots, any dentist could do it.'
Available: Within ten years.
By Lucy Elkins
Last updated at 12:18 AM on 04th November 2008
For anyone who's scared of the dentist, the future looks bright. Professor Nairn Wilson, head of the Dental Institute at King's College, London, says: 'There are things in the pipeline that will revolutionise the way we care for our teeth.' Here, he helps LUCY ELKINS discover what could be in place in the dentist's surgery within the next few years.
Breath of air to banish the drill
The conventional drill with its horrible whine is perhaps the thing people fear most about going to the dentist. The good news is that scientists are close to launching a new way of cutting and polishing teeth, using a blast of air.
The problem with the conventional drill is that a healthy tooth can be removed as well, while the drilling itself can be painful. It can also strip off the protective enamel layer, leading to sensitivity.
Researchers at King's College University Dental Institute have developed a 'drill' that uses a stream of air to blast out particles of glass powder. These gently file and seal the tooth material so there is no risk of future sensitivity.
Different-sized particles can be used depending on the task. As a decayed tooth is softer than a healthy tooth, using the right-size particle means only the decay is removed. This system could also be used to remove stains from teeth.
Available: Within a year.
Grow-your-own replacement teeth
After the age of 50, the average Briton can expect to lose 12 teeth. While these can be replaced with dentures or a crown, both can prove uncomfortable. The only other option is costly implants.
Researchers hope that within ten years we will be able to grow new teeth from stem cells - the so-called master cells which have the potential to be used to grow any part of the body.
Scientists have successfully harvested stem cells from dental pulp - the nerves and tissue inside the teeth - and grown teeth in the lab which have been transplanted into mice. Scientists in Japan, the U.S. and the UK hope to use the same technology for humans.
'In simple terms, you put a nick in the gum, put the stem cells in, and start the growth with a trigger of chemicals that are found naturally in the body,' says Professor Nairn Wilson. It's unlikely to be a quick fix, as it could take two months or more to regrow a tooth from scratch.
Available: Seven to ten years.
A mouthwash instead of fillings
A mouthwash will soon do away with the need for fillings. Researchers at Leeds Dental Institute have developed a protein liquid which can infiltrate even the tiniest holes in teeth. Once in the mouth, it starts to form a jelly which attracts minerals that the body uses to harden teeth and bones.
Holes are easily and painlessly filled to become as good as new. The scientists hope it might last as long as a tooth would.
'We're painting it onto teeth, but we hope soon to adapt it into a mouthwash,' says Professor Jennifer Kirkham. 'As well as filling in holes, it might also cover healthy teeth with a beneficial extra layer. Initially it would be used by dentists, but could eventually be used at home.'
Available: Three to five years.
Fluoride implant for children
Children could soon be fitted with a tiny implant which releases small amounts of fluoride, protecting their teeth from decay. Developed by scientists at Leeds Dental Institute, the implant is about the size of half a pea and is made from extra strong glass. A tiny bracket is glued onto one of the back teeth and the implant slotted in.
Fluoride blended into the glass is released as the glass slowly dissolves in the saliva. Each bead lasts two years and can be simply replaced.
'Ideally, the device would be fitted around the age of six, when the first adult teeth come through, and used until age 14,' says Professor Monty Dougall, who helped develop the implant. 'At this age, the risk of decay reduces as children become more responsible about their teeth-cleaning habits and diet.'
Available: Within a year.
Super-strong invisible braces
Improved invisible' braces are being developed to straighten crooked teeth much faster than metal 'train tracks' or the invisible braces currently available.
Conventional braces work by exerting pressure on one side of the gum, prompting the bone to break down. On the other side of the gum, the lack of force stimulates cells to build new bone. This helps 'open' up the jaw, allowing the teeth to move and realign.
However, the braces exert such force that initially this closes the tiny blood vessels which carry messages to the bone cells to do their work. It can take months for them to reopen and for the movement process to start.
Metal braces exert 15g of force, but just 10g is actually needed to move teeth. Technological advances mean the new braces exert this smaller degree of force.
These new appliances will be as efficient as, and possibly faster than, the metal ones, while being invisible and available to adults and children,' says orthodontist Andrew McCance of University College London.
Available: Within three years.
Magic wand to conquer cavities
Scientists at Leeds Dental Institute have developed a mouthwash which could take the place of the toothbrush. It's made of a substance which is not harmful to humans but is toxic to the bacterial cells in the mouth which cause decay.
When you swill the mouthwash it is harmless, but when a small wand-like light is shone at it, the molecules in the mouthwash change slightly and become toxic to the bacteria, destroying them.
'Studies are ongoing into how often you need to use it, and if it's best used alone or as well as a brush,' says research director Professor Kirkham.
Available: Within two years.
Perfect crowns in an instant
Most people needing a crown - an artificial cap that fits over an existing tooth damaged by decay or injury - have two sessions at the dentist. First, the dentist takes an impression of the teeth using a rubber mould. This is sent to a laboratory, where the new crown is made by a technician and installed a week or two later.
A new computer system allows a dentist to take a 3D picture of the site that needs to be filled. This is transferred within seconds to another computer, which generates the design needed to fill the space. A robot then drills the crown out of a piece of material such as porcelain.
'The whole process takes a matter of minutes and can be done while the patient waits in the chair,' says Professor Wilson.
Available: Now.
Sealing spray for sensitive teeth
Sensitive teeth cause severe discomfort when exposed to hot or cold food and drink. Sensitivity strikes when the dentine (the softer layer underneath the outer enamel) is exposed, in turn exposing the nerves. It often occurs as a result of brushing your teeth too hard, or receding gums.
Special toothpaste can help, as can a varnish painted on by dentists, but this can take several applications. Researchers at King's College are working on a spray which could be applied to seal up the exposed dentine.
Available: Five to ten years.
And finally... the robo-dentist
Robots are being developed to take on the role of dentists when undertaking procedures such as putting in implants. This allows greater accuracy, as the work can be planned on the computer with the aid of scans, and the robot can then be programmed to work in the exact spot needed.
'The technology exists, and it is definitely a possibility that could be in place by 2020,' says Wimpole Street dentist Andrew Dawood.
'It will make implants more accessible, as currently only specialists put them in. With robots, any dentist could do it.'
Available: Within ten years.
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