Aerodynamic Dentistry: Nurturing Nature

By: Nicolas Davis, DDS

Posted: May 1, 2006

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Looking Sideways
Ideas from seemingly unrelated areas often spark creativity in the genius inventor and find their way into new industries. As mentioned above, in the aerospace industry, the material used to bond the ceramic material to the underside of the space shuttle wings is called siline. This coupling agent can bond porcelain to other surfaces.

“The spin-off technology from [siline] is what we use to put veneers on teeth and porcelain fillings in people’s mouths,” said Davis. “It is amazing how the aerospace and space shuttle industry has impacted cosmetic dentistry.”

DNA and genetics is another interesting field that is entering many markets. The dental industry is seeing the emergence of genetics. “Research is underway to actually develop a vaccine for cavities,” said Davis. In skin care, products can be produced from a sample collected from the inside of a client’s cheek, taking the customization of skin care to an ultimate level.

 *A frenum is a fold of tissue or muscle connecting the lips, cheek or tongue to the jawbone; for example, the tissue attachment between the two front teeth. A frenectomy is the removal of one of these folds of tissue. This procedure can be performed to make teeth look straighter or lips look fuller.