At its core, minimally invasive dentistry focuses on preserving as much healthy mouth tissue and tooth structure as possible. In other words, it strives to avoid the old drill-and-fill approach to treating cavities. In order to accomplish this goal as much as possible, minimally invasive dentistry focuses on the following four key principles:
Focuses on Cavity Prevention
Preventing cavities requires more than flossing and brushing twice a day. Preventing cavities in your child also means understanding how food choices and airway health impact your child’s chances of getting dental caries.
Assesses Risks Carefully
Some children are more prone to cavities than others. Family history, food choices and frequency of snacking, brushing habits, tongue posture, airway health, sleep habits, tooth structure and spacing, and so many more factors work in combination to determine your child’s risk of developing cavities. Carefully assessing all your child’s risk factors plays an important role in cavity prevention.
Intervenes Sooner, Rather Than Later
Catching tooth decay early means more treatment options. Minimally invasive dentistry treats small problems, so they do not turn into large ones.
Utilizes Drill-Free Cavity Treatment Options
All of these options below allow our dentists to treat cavities virtually pain-free while maintaining more of the healthy tooth structure.
- Fluoride varnish – Children receiving fluoride varnish applications have 37%-43% reduction in dental caries
- Sealants – It offers up to 76% protection from pit and fissure caries
- Silver Diamine Fluoride – it can arrest up to 80% of the treated lesions
- SMART restorations – Use of glass ionomer restorative material after arresting with SDF and involving no or minimal drill use
- Hall Crown – Hall technique is use of stainless-steel crowns to restore the primary back teeth after arresting with SDF and no drilling