By 9News Staff
Publication Date: 2025-12-09 13:34:00
Going to the dentist can be a little daunting, especially if you are a young patient.
But now there’s a quicker way for dentists to spot the early signs of tooth decay in children.
Resembling a giant electric toothbrush, the handheld device takes thousands of photos and spits out an accurate 3D model within minutes.
The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute found that 38 percent of five-year-olds involved in its research showed signs of tooth decay.
“It is one of the most common causes of preventable hospitalizations in young children,” said Associate Professor Mihiri Silva.
A new survey found that 80 percent of young children eat highly processed packaged foods, with 43 percent eating this type of food five times a week.
“It’s an alarming statistic that children eat so many highly processed foods,” Silva said.
