In the 20th century, dentistry came into its own with the invention of X-rays and the high-speed electric drill; in the early 21st century, oral health is poised to enter a new era. The latest dental technology features prevention of caries rather than treating cavities after they occur. Dentistry is also becoming increasingly integrated with other medical fields.
Over the past decade, dentists have been replacing two-dimensional X-rays with better methods for detecting cavities. Micro-computed tomography (MCT) and especially cone-beam volumetric tomography (CBVT) scanners can offer a picture not only of the teeth, but also of important surrounding structures, such as the sinuses, whose health may affect that of the teeth as well as be influenced by dental conditions. Radiation emitted by these machines is typically similar to that of traditional X-rays.
Other diagnostic technologies loom on the horizon. At the University of Windsor (http://www.uwindsor.ca/), recent experiments have centred on using high-frequency ultrasound to detect cavities; non-destructive testers have already used this technology to find flaws in automobile welding. Toronto’s Quantum Dental Technologies is developing a system for early detection of small caries and demineralization using frequency-domain photothermal radiometry (FD-PTR) and luminescence. The company was born out of work at the University of Toronto’s Centre for Advanced Diffusion-Wave Technologies.
At the National Research Council’s Institute for Biodiagnostics, Lin P’ing Choo-Smith has studied the use of Raman spectroscopy for detecting demineralization, while Xiaoming Xiang and Kan-Zhi Liu have investigated the possibilities of near-infrared spectroscopy to detect periodontitis. This inflammation of the gums not only leads to tooth loss, but has also been shown to increase one’s risk for stroke, heart attack, and diabetes, among others. Periodontal surgery using lasers is relatively new, but is likely to expand in future. Toronto-based Attodyne Inc. is currently developing a mid-infrared ultrafast laser that shows promise.
The natural complement to the earlier detection of oral disease is prevention. An Israeli-based company, Fluorinex Active, has developed a device that may act as a sort of five-year fluoride treatment. The device resembles traditional fluoride treatment trays, or the “bite guards” used to prevent bruxism (nocturnal tooth-grinding) or when playing sports. Their device exchanges hydroxide for fluorine ions. Fluorinex developed the device in partnership with Syneron, a NASDAQ-traded, Israeli-based company with its North American headquarters in Richmond Hill, Ontario. (Volume 3, issue 2, of Medical Technology Watch Canada featured an article on Israeli-Canadian collaborations in medical devices.)
And, in Japan, the robot Simroid (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-498530/Japans-latest-invention-The-dental-training-robot-feel-pain.html) allows dental students to practice surgery on a realistic robot. The robot responds to requests—“Open wider,” “Turn left,” “Close, please,” and the like—and even displays signs of pain, if the student is careless!
