Leaning far back in the long, narrow chair, bright light in your eyes, the feeling is unmistakable: This is the dentist's office. But there is no drill in sight.
Instead, a box powerful enough to vaporise cavities with light waves sits at your feet. On your right, a computer screen displays 14 inches of X-rays of your teeth, all organised by Windows 95.
On your left, a wand topped by a miniature camera can go inside your mouth, illuminating pink gums and yellowish teeth on a television.
"This is the way dentistry is today," said Dr Lori A. Cardellino, whose office in Maryland in the US is loaded with the latest technology - tools that promise less pain, fewer needles and shorter stints in the chair.
During procedures, Dr Cardellino gives her patients a headset to watch videos such as Jurassic Park.
In the past 10 years, researchers have scrutinised every angle and crevice in dentistry, developed new materials to fill cavities and bond teeth, figured out how to get X-rays on a computer, devised machines to replace the drill, invented ways to mask or avoid completely the dreaded needle.
