New Study Highlights No-Drill Tooth Decay Treatments
One of the most common reasons some people fail to seek the regular dental care they need is their fear of the dentist’s drill. According to one newly published study, however, those patients may be able to soon avoid the need for drilling through the use of aggressive prevention techniques. The results of this research indicate that, in many instances, a quick response to tooth decay in its earliest stages can obviate the need for fillings later.
About The Study
The research was conducted in Australia, and focused on one thousand dental patients over the course of seven years. University of Sydney researchers set out to compare tooth decay progression in two separate groups. The first group of patients consisted of those who continued to receive traditional drilling and filling care for cavities. The second group was made up of patients who were provided with a treatment plan that focused on prevention.
That preventive approach had two distinct elements that incorporated proactive treatment and behavioral modification:
- Patients were treated with concentrated fluoride varnish to provide the protection teeth need to ward off decay.
- At the same time, patients were required to limit the amount of sugar they consumed between daily meals.
The Study’s Conclusions
The researchers discovered that patients who participated in the preventive care group saw their need for fillings reduced by as much as fifty percent. The results were even better for those patients who had previously averaged about two fillings each year, as that group experienced an eighty percent reduction in the need for drilling and filling techniques.
The results of the study indicate that there is no straight line of inevitability between dental decay and the dentist’s drill. In many instances, the need for future fillings can be dramatically reduced with early and aggressive preventive care. That care can often help to stop the decay in its tracks and restore the health of the affected teeth.
The key element in all of this is our assessment of just how time-sensitive tooth decay really is. Much of the dental industry has operated under the basic premise that tooth decay progresses quickly, and almost always necessitates drilling and filling. Studies like this demonstrate that decay can be reversed if it is caught early enough and treated in the proper manner. Other new studies are also revealing that decay can take years to progress to the point where drilling becomes the only option.
What it Means for You
It is important to understand that research like this should never be an excuse to avoid regular dental care because you think you have time to fix any potential problems yourself. Once a cavity is formed, no amount of preventive care will help you to escape the need for a filling. However, these results should serve as a reminder that your dental professionals can help you to avoid the drill if you take their advice seriously and act on their recommendations.
At Ebenezer Dental, we understand that being the best dentist in midtown Manhattan is about both care and prevention. To find out more about how we can help you to more effectively prevent tooth decay that requires drilling and filling, give us a call today.