Some people go for years without visiting the dentist because they are so terrified of the drill and pain they might suffer in the quest for a healthier mouth.

But one Brighton dentist is overcoming the problem with a new machine which takes away the dreaded noise - equalled only by nails being scraped down a blackboard - and the pain.

It is proving a hit with patients, particularly because in 75 per cent of cases there is no need for an anaesthetic to be injected into their gums.

Some have finally gathered the courage to go back to the dreaded dental chair after reverting to endless excuses to avoid a visit.

The Matlock Dental Surgery, in Matlock Road, has been using the device, called a PrepStart Air Abrasion Unit, to take the drama out of regular visits.

The technology, which replaces the need for traditional dental drills, uses compressed air to blow aluminium oxide particles which destroy decay, leaving a hole which can then be filled to stop cavities spreading.

Principal dentist Paul Loder said: "The machine is great for small fillings. It enables us to make a much smaller cavity because we are not cutting through lots of tooth to get to the decay.

"We have had many people over the years who have been very frightened of the dentist because of the noise of the drill and the thought of having a needle.

"This system gets around both those problems."

The machine can cut a precisely-defined cavity and the particle stream can be finely focused to rub away at tiny decaying areas.

It does not generate any heat or vibration and reduces the likelihood of tiny slivers of tooth being chipped away.

Dr Loder explained patients could still feel pain if the decay was deep, but the majority of people did not need an injection to dull the discomfort.

Fear of visiting the dentist is one of the most common phobias in the UK, affecting most people to some extent, and means that many will not visit their dentist unless forced to by pain.

Experts say many patients link the fear to their experience of dentistry as children, or have learned to fear dentistry from their parents, but Dr Loder says this is another area where the PrepStart drill can help.

He said: "It's fantastic for children and for babies it's absolutely brilliant.

"This is bringing people out of the woodwork who otherwise might have been too scared to come to the dentist.

"We have had people who have been to see us and then gone home to tell their husband or wife, who have been avoiding the dentist, about the machine so they can come in too."

The British Dental Health Foundation says:

Regular dental check-ups ensure healthy teeth and gums and can help early detection of diseases like cancer, yet only around 50 per cent of people in Britain visit their dentist regularly
You should brush your teeth twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste
Cut down on sugary drinks and snacks
Visit your dentist at least once a year
Bad teeth and bad breath are the top turn-offs for women according to a recent survey for a men's magazine
Fluoride toothpaste was first marketed in Britain in 1959
Frayed twigs, linen or sponge were all used to clean teeth before the advent of the modern toothbrush in 1780.