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Taking drilling out of dentistry
16th Feb 2011
Above: Mottled teeth before treatment – and restored smile after treatment
According to the World Oral Health Report 2003, dental caries remains a major public health problem in most industrialised countries, affecting 60–90% of schoolchildren and the vast majority of adults.
In the United States, dental caries is the most common chronic childhood disease, being at least five times more common than asthma.
With more than 55% of the total American population experiencing some form of caries that is a staggering 151 Million people suffering from decay.
Dental caries, also known as tooth decay, is a disease in which bacterial processes damage hard tooth structure including enamel and dentine.
These tissues progressively break down, producing dental caries (cavities, holes in the teeth) and if left untreated, the disease can lead to pain, tooth loss, infection and, in severe cases, death. Today, caries remains one of the most common diseases throughout the world.
The presentation of caries is highly variable; however, the risk factors and stages of development are similar.
Initially, it may appear as a small chalky area that may eventually develop into a large hole. Sometimes caries may be directly visible, however other methods of detection, such as X-rays, are used for less visible areas of teeth and to judge the extent of the damage.
Tooth decay is caused by specific types of acid-producing bacteria that cause damage in the presence of fermentable carbohydrates such as sugar. The mineral content of teeth is sensitive to increases in acidity.
Specifically, a tooth, which is mainly mineral in content, is in a constant state of back-and-forth demineralisation and remineralisation between the tooth and the surrounding saliva.
When the pH at the surface of the tooth drops below 5.5, demineralisation proceeds faster than remineralisation, resulting in decay.
Depending on the extent of tooth destruction, various treatments can be used to restore the teeth to their proper shape, function, and appearance. This treatment traditionally takes the form of fillings, crowns and bridges, involving the use of local anaesthetic injections and drills.
Unfortunately, often, during these procedures quite a large amount of otherwise healthy tooth material is removed. This tooth mat
erial can never be replaced.
Fortunately there is now a new treatment which means that, in many situations, the Dentist can repair teeth that have become discoloured or developed porosities as a result of decay without the need for either the local an aesthetic injection or any drilling. This is a tremendous benefit.
Developed by a German dental company, and now available in the UK, Icon is a liquid plastic which can be applied to the damaged part of the tooth in order to create a repair.
First the affected tooth is cleaned using a special gel, which is simply washed off after a few minutes. The tooth is dried with a puff of air; then the liquid plastic is applied and set hard using a simple hand-held light. There is no need for either an injection or a drill. Simple, quick and easy, it is painless and enables the dentist to repair slightly damaged teeth and minor blemishes without the need for drilling.
For further information, ask your dentist about Icon or visit www.drilling-no-thanks.co.uk
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