The new study, which was released in December 2015, suggests that a “no-drill” method can stop tooth decay in many cases. An Australian team led by Professor Wendell Evans conducted a seven-year study and observed that the need for fillings was reduced by 30-50% through preventive dental care alone. Find out how no-drill dentistry means fewer fillings.
Tooth Decay and No-Drill Dentistry
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIWH), three in ten adults aged 25 to 44 had untreated tooth decay. This dental problem is relatively common, not only in adults but in young children as well. Dental caries has been long considered to require aggressive treatment to stop its progression.
On the other hand, Professor Evans has a statement for this. “50 years of research studies have shown that decay is not always progressive and develops more slowly than was previously believed. For example, it takes an average of four to eight years for decay to progress from the tooth’s outer layer (enamel) to the inner layer (dentine). That is plenty of time for the decay to be detected and treated before it becomes a cavity and requires a filling.”
He stated that the results of their seven-year study signalled a need for Australian dental professionals to move away from the conventional approach, which is to remove the decay with a drill and restore it with a dental filling, a process also known as “drilling and filling”. He also added, “It’s unnecessary for patients to have fillings because they’re not required in many cases of dental decay.”
On the other hand, Professor Evans believed that advanced cavities require tooth filling. “A tooth should only be drilled and filled where an actual hole in the tooth (cavity) is already evident,” he said.
The Caries Management System
Professor Evans and his colleagues have developed the CMS, which is a preventive regime used on teeth where caries has been detected but has yet to progress to a hole. The no-drill approach comprises of four aspects, which includes:
- Application by dentists of a high-concentration fluoride varnish on teeth with signs of early decay
- Advice on correct tooth brushing techniques
- Restriction of between-meal snacks and drinks containing sugar
- Risk-specific monitoring
“The CMS was first tested on high risk patients at Westmead Hospital with great success. It showed that early decay could be stopped and reversed and that the need for drilling and filling was reduced dramatically,” said Professor Evans.
However, for the treatment to be most successful Evans said that dentists and patients must work in partnership.
Eithne Irving, the Australian Dental Association deputy chief executive, stated, “Research such as this contributes greatly to the evidence base that underpins contemporary dental care in Australia and the ADA will be promoting these findings among its members. Preventive dentistry is the backbone of modern dental practice and this research will provide further evidence of the benefits of this approach for patients.”
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Dentist North Lakes Resource
- Wisdom Teeth Removal in North Lakes: Why It Is Done
- Holiday Oral Health Tips from your North Lakes Dentist
- No-Drill Dentistry: Stops Tooth Decay and Reduces the Need for Fillings
Dentist North Lakes
Find out more about our dentists serving the North Lakes community and anywhere from Brisbane Northside area.