In the case of tooth decay, dentists fill cavities as a cavity treatment option. Sometimes, it is also called restoration. The treatment involves the removal of tooth material, cleaning the affected area, and filling the cavity with filling material. After the completion of a filling, teeth may be hot, cold, or pressure-sensitive. But, sometimes, patients feel pain around fillings. The pain is a very sharp pain that continues over time.
To fix this serious issue, scientists from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry offered a new treatment called resin infiltration. This new treatment allows dentists to slide a plastic perforated sheet between the teeth with cavities.
In this treatment, no drilling is necessary. The procedure does not need any anesthesia.
Assistant Professor Augusto Robles, DDS, said, “When we develop cavities between teeth, sometimes we have to go through the tooth, and we end up damaging healthy tooth structure. This new system allows us to skip the drilling and helps us preserve that structure.“
The Resin infiltration treatment helps restore teeth, but there are a few prerequisites for patients looking to dodge the drill. It works only in between teeth or on smooth surfaces with small cavities.
In this treatment, the cavity is first cleaned by pushing a gel. The gel then makes the surface accept the resin infiltrant through the perforated sheet. After that, the liquid resin is used to fill the tooth with the help of a perforated sheet. A dental curing light is then applied to the tooth to cure the resin. Hence, the treatment is complete.
The resin used in the procedure has to be in a liquid state so that it is absorbed by the cavities in the teeth.
Nathaniel Lawson, DMD, said, “Since this is a no-shot and no-drill treatment and popular with patients. And since no tooth is removed, so it is a very conservative procedure.“
This cavity treatment is made in Germany and is FDA-approved and commercially available. The UAB Clinical Research Center is conducting the largest U.S. clinical trial of this product.
Lawson said, “I’m so proud to be a member of UAB, where I can be a part of a center that is testing new and innovative products. This is one of the most innovative products in dentistry I’ve seen in a while.“
Patients interested in participating can make an appointment for a free 20-minute X-ray and screening appointment by emailing [email protected]. There is no cost to participate in the study.
