5. Ultrasound Technology
Braces are the gold standard when it comes to creating that perfectly aligned smile we all want, but they can actually do quite a bit of damage to teeth as they work.
One problem is called dental root resorption, which involves breakdown of the root structure. This limits the amount of time that braces can be worn. (Other causes of root resorption are endocrine disturbances, trauma, and excessive whitening treatment.)
However, a team of Canadian researchers has designed a low-intensity pulsed ultrasound system that resides on a little chip that can be attached to an orthodontic bracket or plastic removable crown.
The ultrasound waves work to counteract the resorptive process, allowing for longer use of braces or healing for folks in danger of losing teeth to disease. A market-ready LIPUS product is slated for 2020.