(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
Many people fear a visit to the dentist. They are not so much afraid of the doctor, but of the dental equipment and treatments.
Well, fear no more!
A British company says it has developed technology that will end the need for mechanical cleaning of dental cavities. It also says the technology speeds up a natural process of tooth repair.
For over a century, dentists have been repairing cavities the same way. They first remove the decayed, or bad, tooth tissue with an electric-powered drill. Then, they fill the hole in the bone with a metallic or plastic substance.
If the cavity is not too deep, the experience can be unpleasant. However, if it is deep, near the nerve of the tooth, it can be very painful. The worst part is that the process of drilling and filling the cavity has to be repeated for the entire life of that tooth.
Rebecca Moazzez is a senior lecturer at King's College London. She says that this cycle lasts the rest of the tooth's life.
"You're really in that cycle of repair and replacement for the rest of the tooth's life."
Tooth enamel is what we see on the outside of the tooth. The enamel of a damaged tooth can be replaced naturally. This process is called re-mineralization. But it is too slow to stop bacteria from building up in small, narrow areas of the enamel.
A British business called Reminova has developed a method for speeding-up this natural re-mineralization of early-stage cavities.
Jeff Wright is head of the company.
"We've just found a way to make that a much faster process. Driving healthy calcium and phosphate minerals into your enamel and, through a natural process, it will bind on and add to the enamel that's there."
The process begins with a cleaning of the cavity. This does not require power tools. The dentist covers the problem area with a mineral solution, and then uses an electrical current to harden this material. The electricity is too weak for the patient to feel. And the hardened mineral completely fills the cavity.
Researchers say this method could be especially useful for children. Sometimes children have bad experiences at the dentist. They fear the drilling and injections. Who wouldn't be afraid? Better experiences as a child might lead to more visits to the dentist as an adult.
Dr. Barry Quinn works as a consultant at King's College.
"If children have a better experience of going to the dentist, so they haven't had the necessary drilling and injections for routine fillings, then they'll be much more positive in later life and probably become much more regular patients."
Dentists say the new method is most effective on early-stage cavities. The whole treatment lasts about as long as a normal drill-and-fill visit. Researchers say they believe the new method can be further developed for treating late-stage cavities.
And they are quick to note that regular cleaning with fluoride toothpaste helps prevent cavities in the first place.
And that's the Health & Lifestyle report.
I'm Anna Matteo.
VOA译文由可可原创，未经许可请勿转载。
词汇学习
1.unpleasant adj.使人不愉快的；不合意的
The aeroplane was gyrating about the sky in a most unpleasant fashion.
飞机在空中盘旋，令人不堪忍受。
2.replacement n.代替；归还，复位；替代者
Hormone replacement therapy is very important and should be instituted early.
激素替代治疗非常重要，应该及早开始。
3.harden vt.使硬化
The varnish takes a few hours to harden.
清漆需要几个小时才能干透。
4.injection n.注射；注射剂
It has to be given by injection, usually twice daily.
它必须通过注射摄入，通常一天两次。
5.regular adj.有规律的；规则
George struggled wildly, going under and resurfacing at regular intervals.
乔治疯狂地挣扎，不断在水面上浮浮沉沉。
6.note vt.指出
The report notes that export and import volumes picked up in leading economies...
报告特别指出经济大国的进出口量攀升。
内容解析
1.It also says the technology speeds up a natural process of tooth repair.
speed up加速
Action had been taken to speed up the release of cheques.
已经采取行动加速支票的发放。
2.This process is called re-mineralization. But it is too slow to stop bacteria from building up in small, narrow areas of the enamel.
build up积累
Deposits of plaque build up between the tooth and the gum.
牙齿和牙龈之间会滋生牙斑。
3.And they are quick to note that regular cleaning with fluoride toothpaste helps prevent cavities in the first place.
in the first place原先；起初
I don't think we should have been there in the first place.
我认为我们从一开始就不该在那儿。
参考翻译
美国之音慢速学英语节目，这里是健康和生活方式报道。
许多人害怕看牙医。他们并不那么害怕医生，但是害怕牙科器械和治疗方法。
好消息是，以后不用再害怕了！
英国一家公司表示，他们已经研究出一种不需机械清理龋齿的技术。该公司表示，这种技术可以加速牙齿的自然修复过程。
一个多世纪以来，牙医们周而复始地使用同样的方法修复蛀牙。他们首先用电钻去除烂掉或患病的牙组织，然后用金属或塑料材料来补牙。
如果龋齿洞不是太深，这种经历只是让人不舒适。但是如果洞很深，接近牙齿神经，就会非常痛苦。最糟糕的是，这个过程在这颗牙整个生命周期中必须不断重复。
Rebecca Moazzez是伦敦国王学院的高级讲师。她说，这个过程在这颗牙的余生中会不断循环。
“在这颗牙的余生中，你会陷入不断修补和替换的循环。”
牙釉质就是我们看到的牙齿表面的物质。坏牙的牙釉质可以自然更新。这种过程被称之为再矿化。但是这个过程过于缓慢，不能阻止细菌在牙釉质的狭小区域滋生。
英国一家名为Reminova的公司开发出一种新的方法来加速早期蛀牙的自然再矿化。
Jeff Wright是该公司的负责人。
“我们刚刚找到一种办法可以大大加快这个过程。将健康的钙和磷酸盐矿物质注入到你的牙釉质，它会通过一个自然的过程结合并补充现有的牙釉质。”
这个过程最开始是龋齿洞清理，不过并不需要电动工具。牙医用矿物溶液覆盖有问题的区域，用电流使材料硬化。电流非常微弱，患者几乎感觉不到。而硬化的矿物质会完全填满龋齿洞。
研究人员表示，这种方法对儿童尤为有效。有时候孩子看牙医的经历非常糟糕。他们害怕钻洞和注射填充物质。谁不怕呢？小时候较好的经历可能会让他们在成年后更愿意看牙医。
Barry Quinn博士是国王学院的顾问。
“如果孩子看牙医时有更好的体验，不需要钻孔和注射填充物，这样他们在以后的生活中就会更加积极，更有可能定期看牙医。”
牙医表示，这种新方法用于早期蛀牙效果最佳。整个治疗过程与传统钻孔填充修补所用的时间大致相同。研究人员表示，他们认为可以进一步开发这种新疗法用于治疗晚期蛀牙。
而且他们很快提醒大家，经常使用含氟牙膏刷牙有助于从最初就防止蛀牙。
以上就是本期健康和生活方式报道的全部内容。
我是Anna Matteo。
