Dental News

Good News for Those Who Fear the Drill: We Offer Gentler Techniques

December 10, 2015

Preventative care is an effective treatment for minor tooth decay

Good News for Those Who Fear the Drill: We Offer Gentler TechniquesDo you dread the thought of having to get a cavity filled at the dentist? Has this fear lead you to skip your annual dental visits, postponing care until your teeth are too painful to ignore?

We have good news for you. For minor tooth decay, preventative care is actually more effective than the traditional drill and fill approach that you fear. This means that if you visit your dentist regularly and take excellent care of your teeth at home, you may never need to get another filling—even if you do get some tooth decay.

Study Shows Benefits of Prevention

Recently, new research has been published which shows that an approach focused on prevention—rather than aggressive drilling and filling of every imperfection—is best for patients.

This research comes from Sydney University in Australia, where a group of researchers monitored 1,000 patients receiving care at 22 dental offices. Half of these patients received fillings in an aggressive but typical treatment for their tooth decay. The others received preventative care including fluoride treatments and instruction on proper home care for teeth and gums.

Over the next seven years, the patients who had received preventative care showed significant improvement compared to the other patients. Their need for fillings decreased by 30 to 50 percent. And in patients with a history of more severe tooth decay, the need for fillings decreased by 80 percent following preventative care.

Why Prevention Works

The reason preventative care is effective in improving oral health protecting against tooth decay is twofold.

First of all, tooth enamel doesn’t erode as quickly as most dentists think. This means that in the case of minor decay, there is actually less urgency to the situation than previously accepted.

Secondly, teeth can heal themselves to a certain degree. Saliva carries vital minerals to teeth, which can then bond with and strengthen enamel through a process called remineralization. This process can be enhanced with specially formulated toothpastes.

Make Your Appointment Today

If you’re looking for a dentist that will help you prevent the need for drilling and filling, you’ve come to the right place.

At California Dental Group, we have long been focused on preventative dental care. We strive to provide exceptionally gentle and thorough dental cleanings as well as effective treatments for gum disease. In this way we are able to control the top two causes of tooth loss—namely tooth decay and gum disease—and help our patients keep their natural, beautiful smiles longer.

Read Our Reviews