To be afraid of the dentist isn't necessarily fear of the dentist themselves. After all, your dentist is probably a very nice person. However, it may be more a fear of what your dentist might do to you, or rather—the tools they will use. Nobody likes the dental drill, but it's an unavoidable tool of the trade. But is it really? 

Had Its Day

Given the universality of the dental drill, patients will still encounter the dreaded device for some years to come, but it might be that before too long, the dental drill will be history. And why shouldn't it go extinct? If there's a more efficient option that causes less discomfort while being kinder to teeth, it might be that the dental drill has had its day.

Usefulness

Dental drills are undeniably useful, and it's the drill that removes the deteriorated portions of your teeth and allows your dentist to access the internal structure of a tooth when needed. Drilling into a tooth isn't necessarily the only way to access this internal structure. 

Hydrokinetic Energy

When a fear of the dental drill can make you hesitant to receive necessary dental work, you should talk to your dentist. More and more dental practices are using an alternative device that uses hydrokinetic energy, which is a combination of water and a laser. The small handheld device produces a jet of water, which is stimulated by the laser in order to cut through teeth.

Precision of the Technique

It might sound like a laser-powered water blaster, but the technique is far more precise than that description. The precision of the technique allows for exact targeting—so much so that your dental pulp and surrounding gingival tissues won't be irritated by the device, and this can mean that pain relief is often not required. This depends on the nature of the procedure you will be undergoing, and pain relief will still be needed in some cases.

Kinder to Teeth

It's an ideal solution when your overall dental health might not be in the best condition. A dental drill works via the extremely rapid rotations of the drill head, meaning that vibrations are unavoidable. While this doesn't technically damage the surrounding tooth structure, it's not the smoothest experience for your teeth. This is why the hydrokinetic energy method is kinder to teeth.

Not all dentists utilize this drill substitute, so it's worthwhile to check if your dentist does—especially if your dislike of the dental drill has made you hesitant to seek treatment.

Contact a local dentist to learn more about the tools they use.

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