Computer Dentistry Takes Big Bite Out of Pain

Computer-age tools are taking a good deal of pain out of dentistry, according to one of the nation’s largest dental organizations.

The Academy of General Dentistry, which is headquartered here, reports that a number of technological advances are contributing to pain-free dental visits. And, it adds, much of the new technology is responsible for healthier teeth.

“The future is already here in dentistry,” said Dr. Howard Glazer of the academy. “Dentists are making use of sophisticated hardware. We’re using machines to detect caries (cavities) and microscopes to quickly and accurately fill them. We have tomographs and myo-monitors for diagnostic purposes, and laser dentistry is just around the corner.”

Problem-Solving

Glazer said these devices and others not only make a dental visit more comfortable, but many of them can identify a problem before it gets serious.

Though the incidence of cavities among children has been cut by a third in the last decade, decay has not been eradicated altogether, he said. But an ultramodern set of tools sharply reduces discomfort associated with the filling process, he added.

The cavity detector is a minicomputer that gives the dentist an optical readout, Glazer said. A needle point is placed on the tooth groove and, based on a numbers scale, indicates whether decay is present. It also tells the dentist what kind of filling material to use, from amalgam to sealant.

A special dental microscope is used to make cavity-filling precise, Glazer said. This device allows the dentist to survey the tooth in detail so only the decayed portion is removed.

Removal Pinpointed

“You don’t have to remove extra tooth to be sure decay is out,” he said. “The microscope clearly outlines the area to be removed.”

Another detection device has been developed for root-canal work. In simple terms, it measures the electric potential between the periodontal ligament and the body, so the dentist knows exactly where the ligament is and can quickly and accurately perform the procedure. It is especially effective for work on older people and pregnant women because it eliminates the need for multiple X-rays, Glazer said.

Tomographs are used to identify such problems as jaw misalignment. The high-speed machine photographs the jaw as it moves, producing X-rays much like photos from a stop-action camera, so the dentist can make a diagnosis.

Myo-monitors are designed to measure electrical impulses in the facial muscles, revealing how and where a person bites. This helps a dentist evaluate jaw and bite disorders.

Lasers on Horizon

Lasers are not far behind existing technological breakthroughs in dentistry. Academy members expect small, hand-held dental lasers to be available in a few years for such in-office procedures as decay removal, preparation of teeth for fillings, crowns or caps and periodontal surgery.

Among the most welcome tools--to dentists and patients alike--are newly designed needles for injecting local anesthetics, Glazer said. These are pistol-like instruments with an extra-fine needle that deadens only the tooth, not surrounding tissue and the face. The needle barely penetrates the gum and the anesthetic is effective immediately.

“No more waiting 15 uncomfortable minutes for the procedure to begin,” Glazer said.