Q: Has the practice of dentistry advanced as far as it's going?
A: The art and science of dentistry will never stop evolving. Here are just a couple of things to ponder: researchers at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine are looking at a way to make a nasal spray effective in numbing the upper teeth in preparation for a dental procedure. If they are successful, that could eliminate the need for needle-injected anesthesia when work is being done on the upper arch, also known as the maxillary teeth. They are working with a spray that is a topical anesthetic already used by ear, nose and throat specialists in nose procedures.
Researchers there and at two other dental schools are also investigating a procedure that uses ozone to kill bacteria in a decayed tooth and eliminate, at least in some cases, the need for drilling the tooth. Ozone is delivered through an airtight device fitted over the tooth. After the ozone treatment, patients will be treated with a remineralization solution that will strengthen the tooth structure. Talk with your dentist about the advances he has seen in his career.
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