Afraid of the Dental Drill? Worry No More!

Got tooth decay? Dental fillings are not necessarily the default solution to that, according to a new study.

"A new study published in Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology finds that treating early decay without a drill can be even more effective in the long run. And it's cheaper, too," Time Money reported.

The said study involved 1,000 Australian dental patients, following them for over seven years. The participants were grouped into two, with the control group getting the usual "fill and drill" dental service.

The experimental group got fluoride varnish on dental lesions that had not become cavities just yet. The group also were treated with sealants for cracks in the teeth and were advised to make adjustments in their diet and oral hygiene.

"The goal was to rebuild their enamel and reverse tooth decay - using fillings only as a last resort (Once a cavity has already formed, the decay cannot be reversed, and it must be filled.)," the news source noted.

Interestingly, those in the experimental group did better than those given the traditional treatment.

"On average, the experimental group needed 30% to 50% fewer fillings than the control group," Time Money said.

The study's lead author, University of Sydney associate professor Wendell Evans, thus declared, "It's unnecessary for patients to have fillings because they're not required in many cases of dental decay."

""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."

"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)," he went on. "That is plenty of time for the decay to be detected and treated before it becomes a cavity and requires a filling."

Evans and his colleagues had detailed a Caries Management System (CMS) that made the no-drill approach possible, according to Tech Times.

"More attention will be given when brushing teeth at home. This could include improved tooth brushing skills," the site said. "Concentrated fluoride varnish can be applied to early decay sites."

"Reduction in sugary beverages and snacks between meals," it added.

Looks like you don't have to shell out as much just to preserve and fix your pearly whites, after all.

Some dentists in the past has also said that dental decay progresses slowly and thus doesn't always need filling. That's also because the decay usually can be reversed. That being said, it's recommended that you ask your dentist about exploring preventive treatments for your tooth decay before settling on the final recourse, which is filling.

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