"Painless" fillings?

[r_salis]

I'm getting ready to choose a new dentist, and I want to find one who does the fillings procedure which doesn't use a drill. Is that for real? Is it any good?

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[USAF_Dentman]

I'm getting ready to choose a new dentist, and I want to find one who does the fillings procedure which doesn't use a drill. Is that for real? Is it any good?

Yeah thats for real. I had one of mine done with a sand blaster and the filling matched the color of my tooth so you couldnt even tell it was there.

 

[drPheta]

Look into dentists using Lasers. However, please note that not all procedures will be painless, only the ones that can be done using the laser. Also, laser dentistry will be more expensive, just like composites are more expensive than amalgams (especially when composite technology was just catching on, as is with laser dentistry).

 

[Dr.SpongeBobDDS]

Sure, there are "drill-less" fillings, but the dentist still has to use something to cut the tooth. If you are willing to pay a premium for the gizmos then go for it. I personally don't thinking getting a shot is that big of a deal; it's more mental than anything. I am deathly afraid of the puffy thing they do to my eye when I go to the optometrist, though. 😀

 

[JDAD]

The new lazers and other inventions suck. They look good, but function poorly. Stick with the drill, just go electric.

Oh, and all dentistry is painless.

 

[joel4sale]

Without drill.....That would leave you sand blast and laser. Not too much office use sand blast now for cavity prep...It's messy.

The laser is a pretty good option. Not too sure what other guys talking about "more expensive". Laser is just another way to prep and you pay for composite. I have not yet met a dentist who charge more simply because they use laser.

Laser have some limitiation though, I personally like Biolase's WATERLASE. Awesome stuff for composite prep, simple soft/hard tissue surgery and someother procedure. ESPECIALLY for anxiety pt who afraid of shots...yes, you can actually get by WITHOUT shots (not all the time, though). Heard some even use it for crown prep, not sure how the margin gonna look like. Too bad it cost $50,000 a piece....been trying to convince my boss of getting one....

Oh, and electric handpiece is GREAT alternative, too. Still drill, but not as much sound, water, and vibration.

 

[Dino_D]

TBH, if your dentist is using air abrasion on your cavities then they are small lesions (probably still in enamel). In fact, you could probably even use a dental drill and not feel anything either (unless your teeth are overly sensitive to cold). Once you get past the enamel and into the dentin then you will probably feel the "sandblaster" I'm sure.

I can't say I've had any experience with lasers though.

 

[DrJeff]

The laser is a pretty good option. Not too sure what other guys talking about "more expensive". Laser is just another way to prep and you pay for composite. I have not yet met a dentist who charge more simply because they use laser.

Too bad it cost $50,000 a piece....been trying to convince my boss of getting one....

You just hit the nail on the head. There may not be a sperate "laser" fee, but trust me with "only a $30,000" laser in my office, all the fees for procedures that the laser gets used for went up a few bucks. Since not only do I want to make the monthly payments for the laser (a little over $900/month and 0% interest over 3 years) but make as least as much money as I did without the laser payments, and then some.

After all for the $50,000 for a biolase, you can buy an awfull lot of handpieces (air or electric), aspirating syringes and whatever anesthic you want 😉