January 26th is Dental Drill Appreciation Day, a holiday that honors a common dental tool.
The dental drill is a small and high-speed drill that is used during dental procedures, remove decay, and shape tooth structure before adding fillings.
While it isn’t the most pleasant experience (vibrations, high-pitched whine and all), we have to admit that the great result makes us forget it all.
The first electric dental drill was patented in 1875 by an American dentist, George F. Green, but primitive ones were used as early as the 18th century! Needless to say, this tool revolutionized dentistry, and became the go-to instrument for most procedures.
Dental drills are used by professionals every day in order to remove decay and prepare cavities for fillings or crowns. Most people do not need this kind of treatment because they can take care of their teeth at home with regular brushing and flossing. However, if you have a major cavity or an infected tooth that needs to be extracted due to pain or infection risk, then you may need help from a professional who will use his/her dental drill again
