Show #255 Airing: Sunday, May 9, 2004
If Luke Skywalker had a toothache, he might have been told: (Darth Vader voice) “I am your dentist.” That’s my Darth Vader imitation, in case you couldn’t tell. Earlier we talked about how new technology has improved care at MetroHealth’s emergency room. Now we’re going to talk about how laser-like technology is making your trip to the dentist as quick and painless as a leap into hyper space. Here to explain is the Jedi master of mouths, the Skywalker of smiles, Dr. Steven Marsh.
Question: Earlier in today’s show, we talked about how new technology has helped improve the quickness and ease of helping patients in an emergency room setting. But technological advances have changed dentistry too, right?
Answer: Yes. New instruments that use laser or laser-like technologies have made some procedures easier and faster.
Question: You’ve brought some of these tools with you today. The first is the bonding light.
Answer: Old bonding lights used to take 30 seconds to 1 minute to harden the material to the tooth. The new Plasma Arc Light can achieve that in 10 seconds.
Question: What’s the next instrument?
Answer: This is an Electrosurgery Machine that is used for gum contouring, by removing the excess tissue. This machine actually uses radio waves, although today they have also developed a laser that will do the same thing.
Question: And then there’s whitening.
Answer: Yes. Before, we used to take impressions of teeth and create trays that one would wear for weeks. Now, Zoom and Bright Smile can whiten in one visit. We paint whitening gel on the teeth and then the light activates the material to de-stain them.
My thanks to Dr. Marsh for en“lightening” us about the use of laser-like technology in dentistry. Until we return, “may the force be with you.”
