Let's tell patients that we offer quality services, that they should come to our clinic for a wonderful smile or brighter teeth? We hope our patients or potential patients who have heard about us already know this. I don't think the reader even wants this. I have a feeling it would be too banal. Or perhaps we should mention that modern dentistry is practised with minimal pain? If we've got onto this subject, let's explain how performance in dentistry has been achieved through the evolution of what we call the dental drill.
In 1907, James Joyce wrote to his brother: „My mouth is full of decayed teeth, and my soul of vain ambitions.” Indeed, we are fortunate that modern dental drills have allowed dentists to work quickly and precisely, with less pain than before.
Modern dental drills can reach 400,000 rpm (revolutions per minute), a high speed that reduces vibrations compared to drills from the past.
Today's burs, often made of tungsten carbide, are used for the removal of decayed tooth tissue and the preparation of teeth for fillings.
Examples of ancient dental drills include those made from stiles 9,000 years ago by Stone Age people, as well as attempts made by the Maya 1,000 years ago. The Maya used hand-held jade instruments to drill holes into teeth and affix jewellery.
However, since ancient times, dental drilling was slow and cumbersome, so tooth extraction was the most common method of treating cavities. In 1728, the French physician PIERRE FAUCHARD, often called the father of modern dentistry, used a drill propelled by a bow.
In 1864, British dentist George Fellow Harrington invented the first dental motor, much faster than previous ones, but very noisy and difficult to use.
Just like the clock, the motor (the cutter) was wound up with a key and ran for two minutes per rotation.
In 1871, the American dentist JAMES BEALL MORRISON patented a foot-powered drill, which was an immediate success. The best drills could reach 100 r.p.m., but MORRISON achieved 2000 r.p.m.
In the 1870s, American dentist GEORGE F. GREEN patented the electric-powered dental drill, but it relied on hard-to-make batteries to create much excitement.
Finally, in 1957, the first air turbine became available with speeds of up to 3000 r.p.m.
Today, alternatives to milling include laser ablation, abrasive particles and plasma jet devices, as well as experimental milling robots.
- article written by Dr Ionel Julea for reperemedicale.ro