No More Drilling and Filling

The shrill, high-pitched sound of a dentist’s drill is enough to send chills down anyone’s spine, but a new technique for treating dental cavities could put an end to the endless cycle of drilling, filling and re-filling that many of us have come to know (and dread). Known as Electrically Accelerated and Enhanced Remineralization, it can be performed without the need for analgesia or anesthesia because it’s totally painless.

Cavities form as a result of bacteria breaking down (demineralizing) the tooth enamel. With the new technology, a tool (dubbed a “healing hand piece”) is placed over the cavity and emits an electric charge. This accelerates the natural movement of calcium, phosphate and other minerals back into the enamel, enabling teeth to re-build themselves. Best of all, since the repair is stronger than typical patching methods, it only needs to be done once, and the cost should be about the same, or less, than a traditional filling.