Do you have hesitations about visiting your dentist? You know you don't have to be hesitant.
There's a recent study that proves that you don't need to have a filling if you treat decay on its early stages.
The research from published in Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology states that this treatment procedure is better as it is more effective and it is not costly.
The study involved dividing the participants into two groups. There is a control group which received the traditional treatment for filling and drilling. There's the experimental group that were given fluoride varnish on lesions that haven't transformed to cavities yet, sealants to protect cracks, and encouragement to make modifications concerning their oral hygiene and dietary practices.
The main aim of the study is to restore the enamel and avert tooth decay. When a cavity is already formed, decay cannot be avoided so they only use fillings as the last option.
The patients who were subjected to the experimental treatment showed better results rather than their counterparts.
"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," said the author of the study, Wendell Evans, associate professor at the University of Sydney.
The study didn't look into the cost of the treatments for Americans but MONEY took a peek into this perspective. The fill and drill treatment was found to be less effective and a whole lot expensive.
When you get the chance to visit your dentist soon, and you are recommended for a filling, ask your dentist first for alternative methods that could at least lessen decay or reverse it entirely. This can totally save you from expensive bills.
