There's a simple way to stop, reverse and prevent tooth decay without the need for the traditional "drill and fill". It seems that there's no need for fillings through preventative oral care.
Washington Post reports that a seven-year study conducted by researchers at the University of Sydney that involves 1,000 patients at 22 dental practices compared people who received traditional filling treatment with those who received less aggressive preventive treatment. The preventive treatment involves high concentration fluoride varnish, limiting sugary food and beverage in between meals, and attention to home tooth brushing skills.
The results showed that the need for fillings was reduced by 30-50 percent through these preventive measures. Most importantly, those with the highest risk like getting two fillings per year had experienced 80 percent reduction rate.
"It's unnecessary for patients to have fillings because they're not required in many cases of dental decay," said the study's lead author, Associate Professor Wendell Evans of the University of Sydney.
"This research signals the need for a major shift in the way tooth decay is managed by dentists -- dental practice in Australia needs to change. Our study shows that a preventative approach has major benefits compared to current practice."
The findings were published in Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology this week. Current dental practice is based on the belief that tooth decay is a fast progressive phenomenon. The best way to treat is through early detection and immediate removal of the decay to prevent from breaking up into cavities. After the decay is removed, the tooth is restored with a filling material. This process is popularly known as "drilling and filling".
However, 50 years of research studies have revealed that decay is not always progressive. It actually develops a little slower than we previously believed. In fact, it takes four to eight years for the decay to progress from the tooth's outer layer to the inner layer.
However, if the decay has formed into a cavity, there's no way for you to avoid the "drilling and filling".
Find this article useful? Don't forget to share on Facebook!
