We are seeing the future of Dentistry become reality every day. More and more terrific new technologies are coming online and some amazing things can already be done, and much more is headed our way faster than any of us think. Below are just a few of the advances that are already here or will be soon. For more on the future of Dentistry head over to our "Articles" section where we provide links to interesting articles on the internet about Dentistry in all forms.

Dentists in the near future will be able to treat patients not with artificial dentures and fillings, but with artificially-grown teeth, manufactured in the lab. These new teeth would look exactly like the ones they are designed to replace, and could offer a much cheaper alternative to complex dental works.

Some future dental technologies that are in use now, in our office anyway, include the new iTero 3D scanner for the most accurate crown and bridge manufacturing ever, digital x-rays that emit a fraction of the radiation of years past (less than spending 15 minutes in the sun!), and more.

Laser Drilling

The dentists' drill may soon be a thing of the past as oral caretakers look to the future... which, of course, means lasers. This is far from the first application of lasers in dental surgery, but until now they haven't been strong enough to penetrate teeth.

Because the lasers don't require physical contact between the tooth and the tool, vibrations are greatly reduced, which means far less pain. In fact, unless removing the decaying portions exposes a nerve, there may be no need for Novacaine injections at all, though many dentists will still give them as a precautionary measure.

Because decaying bone tissue in the teeth holds significantly more water than healthy enamel, the laser drill works by heating up water in the dead tissue causing microscopic explosions, literally blasting away the decayed bone. Unfortunately, traditional drills will still be needed to remove old-school mercury fillings, which can reflect the laser back at the dentist, posing a potential hazard. But, soon mercury fillings will become rare and laser drilling will become common place.

Lab-Grown Teeth? Indeed!

The innovation that allows for such ideas is the fact that researchers have managed to successfully create the strong component enamel, which makes up the outer layer of the teeth. Thus far, they have succeeded in creating the inner parts, but no one has achieved designing the outer layer. Basically, geneticists have managed to identify the gene that causes the stuff to grow over our teeth in the first place, so they now hope to be able to condition living things into expressing more of this gene.

A study by a US team from the Oregon State University has revealed that a "transcription factor" called Ctip2 is the one responsible for the production of enamel, in cells called ameloblasts. It has a multitude of other purposes as well, including the human immune response and the early development of skins and nerves. The more we learn about it the more we can use the information to make biological models of tooth repair," tooth development expert Paul Sharpe, from the Dental Institute at King's College London in the UK, concludes by saying.

Dentists in the near future may be able to help you care for your entire body. Within the next two years, you may see your dentist using your tooth x-rays to check for osteoporosis. European scientists have developed software that can scan x-rays of your teeth to help gauge your risk of osteoporosis. In early trials, the software is just as accurate as bone density tests! More trials are underway, but a computer scan may soon be a quick and easy alternative to bone density testing.

Within the next four years, chocolate toothpaste may help make your teeth stronger. A cocoa powder extract developed by researchers at Tulane University makes your teeth harder and less susceptible to plaque. The cocoa powder extract is even more effective than fluoride when it comes to protecting your teeth and preventing tooth decay. Mint chocolate chip toothpaste? Sounds delicious!

Within the next five years, your dentist may be able to detect early signs of breast cancer using a sample of your saliva. Researchers at the University of Texas are looking at four different proteins found in saliva that may be early indicators of breast cancer. When protein levels in saliva go up, it may be time for an MRI or mammogram to check for lumps. More research is underway.

With so many amazing advancements coming in the near future, it is more important than ever to schedule regular dental check-ups and cleanings. If an x-ray will be able to help you catch osteoporosis earlier... if a saliva sample will be able to catch breast cancer early... you can't afford to stay out of the dentist's office! Regular dental check-ups and cleanings will be more important than ever.