People who live in fear of the dentist's drill could be in for a more comfortable future – as new plasma technology arrives.

"Drilling is a very uncomfortable and sometimes painful experience. The use of cold "plasma jets", in contrast, is a completely contact-free method that is highly effective," said Dr Stefan Rupf, who led the study.

The properties of the plasma are harmful to bacteria, while preserving the tooth and leaving the rest of the area unaffected.

(Read more at the BBC)