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34 laser 1 2016 | special Probing for alternatives The prevention of dental fear Author: Dr Anton Kasenbacher, Germany Literature [1] Zahnarzt-Angst vor Behandlung: Wie stark fürchten Sie sich vor den folgenden zahnärztlichen Behand- lungen? Statistische Erhebung der Toluna Germany GmbH i. A. der DEVK, April 2009. [2] Kani, E.; Asimakopoulou, K.; Daly, B.; Hare, J.; Lewis, J.; Scambler, S.; Scott, S.; Newton, J. T.: Cha- racteristics of patients attending for cognitive behavioural therapy at one UK specialist unit for dental phobia and outcomes of treat- ment. British Dental Journal 2015; 219(10): 501–506. [3] Walther, W.: Der Einfluss von Präparationen mit Turbine und Schnellaufwinkelstück auf die menschliche Pulpa. Vergleichende histologische Untersuchungen. Inaugural-Dissertation, Albert-Lud wigs-Universität, Freiburg i. Br., 1984. [4] Pantas, E.; Jöhren, H.P.: Zahnbe- handlungsangst – eine prospektive Studie zur anxiolytischen Wirkung von Musik während der Zahnbe- handlung. Deutsche Zahnärztliche Zeitschrift2013;68(5):288–295. The following video recently went viral as it illustrates how dental fear impacts both patient and dentist: After scientists from the University of São Paulo have recently investigated a method to replace in- jection needles—one of the main triggers of dental anxiety—by a technique entailing less potential for dental fear, this article discusses the factor which is seen as the most prominent cause for dental phobia worldwide: the dental drill.1 In a study recently published by the British Den- tal Journal, 77 per cent of the patients surveyed stated to be very afraid of upcoming dentaldrill treatments.2 Although the electrical dental drill, which was already patented in 1875 by US dentist George F. Green (US-Patent No. 171121 A) is seen as the gold standard for caries therapy and prepa- ration procedures, most patient anxieties are re- lated with this traditional dental tool, as its causing pain and tissue damages seems to be an inherent principle of its application.3 For this reason, anaes- thetic injections prior to treatment are inevitable in most cases. Thus, in their prospective clinical investigation of dental fear, authors Pantas and Jöhren refer to a number of analyses which indicate that 75 per cent of the adult population are batteling dental anxi- ety. In 5 to 12 per cent of the patients, dental pho- bia is so pronounced that they refuse to be treated.4 Moreover, some studies imply that about 95 per cent of all dental offices do not offer any strategies to prevent dental anxiety in the first place, accord- ing to Pantas and Jöhren. Ultrashort pulsed lasers form an alternative to both fear-inducing dental drills (turbine, high- speed engine) and all dental lasers on the market so far. Applying pulse durations of less than 10 pico seconds and pulse energies of less than 50 µJ stop heat and shock waves from spreading towards the dental pulp, resulting in a pain-free dental treat- ment without any tissue damages. After 141 years of technical advances in dental therapy, the arrival of ultrashort pulsed lasers has finally achieved complying to the Hippocratic principal of "primum non nocere" (First, do no harm)._ contact Dr Anton Kasenbacher Obere Hammerstraße 5 83278 Traunstein Tel.: +49 861 4692 Fax: +49 861 12853 a.k@ts-net.de 12016 Tel.: +498614692 Fax: +4986112853