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For anyone dreading visits to the dentist, there’s good news, as you can treat tooth decay without drill-and-fill, so those hair-rising sharp sounds of the drill might not come near you again. Dental care has numerous aspects that tends to frighten a lot of people. The drill is definitely one of them.
Researchers from the University of Sydney have found a way to treat tooth decay early on that would reduce the risk of the drill-and-fill technique. It’s one most often feared by patients.
The team of scientists studied a group of people who were at high risk of tooth decay, or dental caries. Around 75% of the participants also has “dental phobia”, or had a fear of at least one aspect of dentistry. This includes injections or a drill. It made for the perfect study group to test out the new technique.
CMS instead of drill-and-fill
They named it Caries Management System (CMS), which arrives with a set of requirements. Dentists will have to make a proper assessment of the tooth decay, interpret the dental X-rays, and apply a specific treatment that will stop tooth decay before it even stars. According to lead author of the study, Wendell Evans, for a long time it was believed that tooth decay was fast and progressed rapidly.
However, it takes time. In fact, it may require between 4 to 8 years for the bacteria to eat away at the outer layer and make its way to the inner layer. When that happens, it becomes a cavity, which normally needs to be drilled out. After the drill, the patients need to have their tooth restored with the help of a filling material.
Researchers believed though that they found a way through CMS that would stop that from happening altogether. After 7 years of follow ups, their patients had the risk cut of seeing tooth decay by 30-50%. With the aid of preventive care through CMS, it offers patients a lesser risk of developing cavities, and much more time to fix tooth decay before it progresses too far.
According to the team, there are four essentials required for CMS. One implies the application of a high concentration fluoride varnish, and monitor the patient for potential risk of developing cavities. The second is for the dentist to properly monitor their teeth brushing activity, make sure it’s as often and as correct as needed. Furthermore, they require to ask or do research in tendency of snacking in between meals and drinking beverages with added sugar.
Professor Evans stated that the technique was “understandably welcomed by patients”. It is much more encouraging to pay a visit to the dentist, knowing that the drill won’t be coming anywhere near you.
Image source: smruk.org
