A new type of laser test could mean far fewer of us have to go under the dentist's drill.

The laser test, developed by a team from the University of Sydney, could be used to identify weaknesses in teeth enamel earlier than is currently possible, cutting down on the need for filings.

The researchers beamed short, low-energy laser pulses at the teeth enamel. These caused acoustic waves in the surface of the enamel, which were then detected in the infrared laser light that was reflected back from the tooth. According to New Scientist: the team "found that changes in mineralisation of the enamel which signal the onset of decay appear to cause characteristic changes in the pattern of acoustic waves".

In particular, the team says in the conclusion of its report, which was published in Optics Express, that there was an increase in the speed and frequency of the waves when enamel had worn away to expose the dentin underneath.

Hsiao-Chuan Wang, one of the researchers, says that the team now plans to create a more compact system. "The ultimate goal is to come up with a quick, efficient, cost-effective and non-destructive way to evaluate mineralisation," he says.

一种新的激光测试可能意味着我们会有更少的人必须要走到牙钻下面。

由悉尼大学的一个小组开发的这种激光检测方法，可以用来识别牙齿珐琅质的缺陷，它早于目前可能的方法：在需要的时候切下一些牙质进行锉屑。

研究者们向牙齿珐琅质发出短暂的、低能耗的激光脉冲。这在珐琅质的表面引起声波。然后在从牙齿反射回来的红外激光中进行检测。据《新科学家》报道：这个小组"发现了珐琅质在氟斑矿化中的变化--它对衰败的肇端发出信号，似乎引起声波型式的特征性变化".

尤其是，这个小组在他们的报告结论中说道，在珐琅质被磨掉、暴露出下面的牙质的时候，光波的速度和频率有所增加。这份报告发表在《光学快讯》上。

研究者之一王晓川（音译）说，这个小组现在计划创造一个更为紧凑的系统。"我们最终的目标是要提供一个快速、高效、低成本和无损检测方法来对氟斑矿化进行评价，"他说。