Plasma replaces dental drill

Plasma replaces dental drill

A new study shows that plasma that destroys bacteria responsible for tooth decay can replace the dental drill for caries treatment, making a visit to the dentist more enjoyable.

 How does it work?

Plasma is the fourth state of matter after solids, liquids and gas. It is formed when gases are driven to the point where electrons are released from their atoms.

Researchers have recently demonstrated that a small device that emits a beam of plasma can eliminate oral bacteria in cavities, tooth structure behind this operation is less affected than the latter using dental drill.

"I believe that the plasma will bring many benefits regarding treatment of caries, especially since it will not use dental drill to remove dentin," said Stefan Rupf, an assistant professor of dentistry at the University of Saarland in Germany.

Usually dentists use dental drill to remove the portion "sick" of the tooth where bacteria have accumulated. Instead of using brute force to drill, dentists seek less invasive methods how to remove decay.

Besides plasma about something we all know (part sun and other stars), there are plasma at a temperature of 38 Celsius, created in the laboratory by partial ionization of helium microwave pulse that lasts only a millionth of a second.

To test how well the plasma sterilize the tooth surface, Rupf researcher and his team took pieces of dentin from extracted molars of adult and put him in a container with bacteria. These samples were subsequently treated with plasma for 6, 12 or 18 seconds.

 After longer exposure to the bacteria plasma treatment decreased 10,000 times and completely disinfected dentin.
Plasma replaces dental drill
Death bacteria

Rulf says that after research did not know exactly how plasma can kill bacteria and not all of the heat released is responsible for this. "When the plasma reaches the surface of the tooth, dentin temperature increases from 38 to 43 degrees Celsius, hot enough, but not enough to kill germs or attack tooth tissue," said Rulf.
When plasma acts, load oxygen in the surrounding air, creating reactive molecules that can destroy bacteria's defense system.

Rupf consider the use of plasma in dentistry will be possible in five years. "We need time to learn more about this," the researcher said.