How to Get Rid of Cavities Without Drilling?

Nobody enjoys having their cavity drilled and having a dentist fill it, so the question is, “Can you fill a cavity without drilling?”. In this article, we want to discuss two painless cavity treatment alternatives without drilling. Silver diamine fluoride and Air Abrasion. SDF is an antibacterial liquid that is rubbed on cavities to stop the growth of tooth decay and avoid unnecessary cavity filling. On the Other hand, air abrasion is a drill-less method to remove early, tiny spots of tooth disease and to do other treatments.

SDF or Silver diamine fluoride is the chemical formula. It was originally used in Japan, but the Food and Drug Administration licensed it in the US. SDF destroys bacteria that create plaque and promotes tooth remineralization. The FDA approved SDF as a tooth desensitizer for patients 21 and over some years ago.

The air abrasion machine sprays your teeth with a forceful stream of small aluminum oxide particles. This causes the particles to bounce off your tooth, carrying the decay.

Silver Diamine Fluoride VS. Air Abrasion

Let’s take a look at the differences between these two methods of no-drill dentistry.

No-Drill Dentistry: Silver Diamine Fluoride

The solution is made up of: 

• 62% water
• 5% fluoride
• 25% silver
• 8% ammonia

Silver has antimicrobial properties, while fluoride helps to remineralize the tooth. The FDA licensed SDF in 2014 to treat tooth hypersensitivity, but it is rapidly being used “off-label” in children and adults to prevent decay.

Applying the liquid requires no dental preparation with a drill or numbing with a needle, making it painless and simple – an important benefit for squirmy youngsters or anybody who dislikes drilling or needles.

Besides fluoridated water, SDF (silver diamine fluoride) is maybe the most significant advancement in children’s oral health in the previous century.

It’s also a good alternative for those who have trouble getting to the dentist or tolerate conventional dental treatment, such as nursing home residents, cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, or persons with intellectual or developmental problems.

No-Drill Dentistry: Air Abrasion

Air abrasion, also known as microabrasion, is a technique used to remove dental decay using microscopic particles of aluminum oxide or silica. Consider a small sandblaster softly removing the deteriorated material without the friction of a drill. Your dentist sprays a stream of sand-like particles at the damaged tooth with compressed air while an assistant typically suctions away the surplus.

Because anesthesia is typically not required for this technique, the dentist can treat multiple teeth in a single session. Air abrasion aims to detect and treat early cavities while conserving tooth structure. The mix of air abrasion and composite resin filling restores the efficiency and strength of the teeth rapidly and pleasantly.

Air abrasion is also useful for:

• Some old composite restorations should be removed, but not metallic restorations like silver amalgam fillings.
• Making a tooth surface ready for bonding or sealants.
• Removing surface stains and discolorations from your teeth.

Cavity Treatment Without Drilling Using SDF

You’ll be relieved to know that SDF is painless, safe, and effective. First, a polishing paste or toothbrush will clean your teeth. Next, SDF is brushed onto the cavities after your teeth have been cleaned, and vaseline is applied to the gums surrounding the teeth to be treated. Following this, SDF will be administered to the region enclosing the cavity. It is then left to air dry for two minutes before being removed.

This process is repeated until the cavity has healed. Larger cavities can be filled with a filling to restore the tooth’s original form. There is no flavor, odor, or pain. Our Registered Dental Hygienists may use SDF since it is safe and effective.

SDF has two strong ingredients: 

• Silver
• Fluoride

Silver contains an antibacterial substance that both kills and keeps germs from developing. Fluoride is used to strengthen the tooth structure. Your Park Ridge general dentist can use these two medications to attack cavities and desensitize teeth. The procedure poses little danger of unpleasant responses, although one of the side effects is that the cavity turns black. Your dentist can discuss aesthetic choices once the cavity has healed.

Cavity Treatment Without Drilling Using Air Abrasion

A piece of equipment similar to a tiny sandblaster is used to spray away deterioration during air abrasion. A fine spray of particles is directed toward the discolored or decaying region of the tooth during air abrasion. These silica, aluminum oxide, or baking soda particles are driven toward the tooth’s surface by pressurized gas or a gas that flows through the dental nozzle. Small decay particles on the tooth surface are eliminated when the particle stream touches them. The decay components are then “suctioned” away through a narrow tube.

When to Do a Cavity Treatment Without Drilling?

A cavity treatment without drilling may be advised in a variety of scenarios. Among them are, but are not restricted to, the following:

• Children who may develop tooth decay (in early childhood)
• Children with carious lesions that cannot be treated all at once
• Young children who have trouble behaving collaboratively
• Patients with special requirements

Is Drill Less SDF Cavity Treatment Effective?

SDF destroys the bacteria that causes the cavity to touch and has the added advantage of strengthening the tooth where the cavity began. Sugary or crunchy meals will no longer irritate that area. The liquid safely and swiftly prevents the deterioration in roughly 80% of treated lesions.

SDF doesn’t cure cavities but keeps them from becoming larger and deeper into the pulp, where the blood vessels and nerves are.

SDF may be used to treat cavities on all tooth surfaces, such as decay in the roots of teeth caused by gum recession.

The specialists disagreed on what extra therapy might be required next. However, it is recommended to reapply SDF every six months to keep the decay process at bay until a filling, crown, or other treatments can be used to fix the cavity.

The application of SDF might be sufficient for some people unless the degradation progresses. For example, if the cavity left a large hole, a filling could still be needed to restore a smooth, correctly formed tooth.

Is Drill Less SDF Cavity Treatment for Kids?

First, we answered the question, “Can you get rid of cavities without drilling?” Now, we want to see if it is good for children. Pediatric dentists have welcomed silver diamine fluoride cavity treatment as an option for children who cannot stay still for treatment and whose parents choose not to use general anesthesia. This cavity treatment without drilling may be the biggest breakthrough in pediatric oral health in the previous century, aside from fluoridated water.

SDF is helpful not just for pediatric dental treatment but also for treating individuals with dental phobias and elderly patients who may be unable to bear surgery for extensive cavities involving numerous teeth. SDF is also FDA-approved for treating sensitive teeth, so it can benefit children and adults with this issue.

Is Drill Less Air Abrasion Cavity Treatment for Kids?

Yes! Most children would prefer air abrasion over drill:

• Less discomfort or pain
• There will be no needles.
• Spending less time in the dental chair
• Quieter instruments

What are the Benefits of SDF Cavity Treatment Without Drilling?

• SDF may help prevent tooth decay.
• SDF may aid with sensitivity relief.
• SDF may enable patients who are extremely young or have unique requirements to have a cavity treatment without drilling or anesthesia.
• SDF can halt decay in 60 to 70% of instances with a single treatment. A second application within six months increases the treatment’s long-term efficacy to more than 90%.
• The therapy reinforces tooth structure, desensitizes the tooth, and even prevents new cavities from developing, in addition to eradicating cavity-causing germs.
• SDF can also reach decay underneath existing crowns and bridges, a major benefit for older patients.
• In the past, a dentist would have had to take the crown out, drill the cavity out, and build a new crown. It was painful, expensive, and time-consuming. Many people, unable to pay the fee, would rather have the tooth removed.
• The paint-on liquid is far less expensive than standard therapy.
• Approximately half of all state Medicaid programs cover the therapy. Rates of reimbursement vary from $5 to $75 per application.
• More insurance companies have begun to cover it as well.
• A limited but rising number of dentists have started to provide therapy to all patients.
• It’s a wonderful choice for people who are worried about the expense of dental work.

What are the Benefits of Air Abrasion Cavity Treatment Without Drilling?

Air abrasion has several advantages over standard drilling methods, including the following:

• There is no heat, vibration, or pressure produced by air abrasion.
• Air abrasion occasionally eliminates the need for anesthetic, especially if the cavity is shallow.
• More healthy tooth tissue is left behind after air abrasion.
• Air abrasion minimizes the danger of tooth fracture and chipping, which some dentists feel can shorten the life of the filling.
• Although the operation is straightforward, it may take longer than standard drilling.
• There are no tremors, loud noises, or undue pressure.
• Procedures are faster and easier.
• Reduced the possibility of tooth damage (crumbling and fractures).
• The teeth stay dry, which is ideal for filling placement.

What are the Side Effects of SDF Cavity Treatment Without Drilling?

The risks associated with SDF include, but are not exclusive to:

• The afflicted region will be permanently stained black. Teeth that are in good condition will not stain. In the future, stained tooth structures can be changed with a filling or crown.
• If unintentionally applied to the skin or gums, a brown or white stain might emerge, which is harmless and will fade in one to three weeks.
• Your child may detect a metallic taste, which will go quickly.
• There is a chance that the operation will not stop the degradation.

What are the Side Effects of SDF Cavity Treatment Without Drilling?

Air abrasion, like other techniques, isn’t flawless. It is not always painless for everyone. In addition, during the process, it might cause tooth sensitivity.

• It does not have to be painful. Sensitivity can be caused by air and abrasive particles.
• It is not suggested for deep cavities (those near the tooth’s pulp) or cavities between teeth. It works well for eliminating tiny cavities on the exterior or chewing surfaces of teeth.
• If hard enamel must be removed to reach the decay, air abrasion cannot be utilized; instead, a standard drill and bur must be used. After gaining access to the deterioration, air abrasion might be applied.
• It cannot be used to prepare crowns, onlays, or inlays.

Facts to Consider For Dental Cavity Treatment without Drilling

SDF (silver diamine fluoride) is an antibacterial liquid applied to fix cavities without drilling, treat tooth sensitivity, and prevent tooth decay. SDF may need to be applied again and again.

The procedure is as follows:

1. The damaged region should be dried.
2. Apply SDF to the afflicted region in a tiny amount.
3. Allow the SDF to dry completely.
4. Rinse.

SDF should not be provided to a child if:

• Your child is sensitive to silver.
• There are painful sores or raw spots on your gums (ulcerative gingivitis) or elsewhere in your mouth.
• SDF treatment does not eliminate the necessity for dental fillings or crowns to restore function or appearance. Additional procedures will be charged separately.

No Drill Cavity Repair Near Me in Ahwatukee, Phoenix, Arizona

If you are looking for “no drill cavity repair near me,” you have come to the right place. Dr. Foroughi of Atrium Dental in Phoenix, Arizona, supports this conservative and non-invasive procedure. He recognizes that SDF is only applicable in certain circumstances. Dr. Foroughi has started employing SDF for baby teeth instead of standard pediatric restorations. Please contact us at 480.940.4321 to schedule a consultation to discover if you or your children are suitable candidates for SDF.