THE dreaded dentist's drill could be a thing of the past if a new treatment piloted in Dartford takes off.

The Dartford Dental Practice in The Brent has started using the Healozone machine, which sprays ozone gas onto a tooth to eliminate bacteria. The traditional needle, drill and filling are not needed.

Dr Maedve Logue, owner of the practice, said: "This is going to revolutionise treatment and is what we dentists have always wanted. All the patients have been very happy because it is so easy and completely painless."

Her practice is one of 70 across the UK to pilot the £15,000 machine. A cap is placed over a tooth and then ozone gas is sprayed for between 10 and 40 seconds.

The patient is then given a kit containing special toothpaste and mouthwash to use for the next three months. The treatment's progress is monitored using a laser that detects the level of decay.

Dr Logue added: "Before we removed diseased tissue, now we can heal it in 99 per cent of cases. This is much better for us and also for the patient because it removes some of the fears they have about visiting the dentist."

Dr Logue decided to buy the Healozone machine after seeing a demonstration by Professor Edward Lynch of Queens University Belfast, who developed the treatment. Research is still continuing before the machine goes on the open market.

The Healozone therapy is not suitable for all teeth. It is also more expensive than the traditional filling - £50 per tooth compared to £30 for a black filling at Dr Logue's practice.