If the idea of a dentist’s drill strikes fear in your heart, you’re not alone. Many people, especially younger patients, experience extreme anxiety over the thought of having teeth drilled. This can be problematic for people who need cavity treatment. According to the CDC, among children aged six to eight years, over half have had a cavity. Luckily, there are treatment options for cavities that don’t involve drilling. Keep reading to learn about minimally invasive fillings.

What Is Minimally Invasive Dentistry?

This term is used to refer to dental techniques that do not involve a dental drill. The main objective would be to use other types of treatments and preventive measures to treat teeth while respecting the dental tissue. Several different types of treatment can be used. Let’s look at a few you can find at a local dentist.

Silver Diamine Fluoride

This type of treatment uses a specific formulation that can stop decay in the early stages. When this option is used, the need for a filling can often be avoided. This technique works best when a child is having regular dental visits, allowing a cavity to be caught in the very early stages. This is a highly preferred method, as it doesn’t require any numbing, drilling, or traditional fillings. The SDF solution is applied to the weak spot on the tooth. Since silver is a natural antimicrobial, it can help to kill the bacteria causing tooth decay. The high levels of fluoride in the solution also help to strengthen the tooth’s enamel.

This treatment option is usually applied a few different times over the course of a year. Dentists and patients find that this option is far superior to traditional fillings. It’s also more affordable. Younger children also find this type of procedure more tolerable than a regular filling.

Atraumatic Restorative Treatment

Another method of minimally invasive treatment for cavities would be Atraumatic Restorative Treatment or ART. During this procedure, the hole in the tooth is filled with a material called glass ionomer. This slowly releases a fluoride that seals the tooth. Over time, this substance also continues to strengthen the tooth.

These are just two types of minimally invasive treatments for cavities. If you’d like to learn more about these types of options at your local dentist, please contact us today. We are here for your dental needs.