Thanks to a new plasma technology which has just arrived on the scene, people who are fearful of going to a dentist because of the potential pain involved will now be more comfortable in future.

Christened "plasma jets", the new offering could one day be used to effectively clean out bacteria from tooth cavities, thereby eliminating the need for a filling.

Researchers have stressed that the new plasma jets could be available within the next 3-5 years.

In the case of a tooth cavity, dentists generally use a drill to clean out the bacteria before setting in the filling. But it seems that the properties of the plasma are harmful for the bacteria, thereby serving the purpose real well.

"Drilling is a very uncomfortable and sometimes painful experience. Cold plasma, in contrast, is a completely contact-free method that is highly effective. Presently, there is huge progress being made in the field of plasma medicine and a clinical treatment for dental cavities can be expected within 3 to 5 years", said study leader Dr. Stefan Rupf.

The new study has been published in the Journal of Medical Microbiology.