Minimally Invasive Treatment
This is an approach to dentistry that concentrates on preserving tooth and bone structure. Minimally invasive treatment concentrates on prevention and early detection of dental disease. The benefits to patients are less traumatic treatment and greater comfort. Patient involvement in the proper care and maintenance of their personal oral hygiene is critical to the success of this approach.
Among the minimally invasive techniques and procedures used in our practice are:
> Laser-assisted early decay detection. The Diagnodent is a laser device that can detect early signs of decay and enable the use of less invasive treatments.
> Remineralisation. Tooth enamel, the hard outer layer of teeth, is made up of several minerals which are continually removed (demineralisation) by acids formed by plaque bacteria and sugars in the mouth. Minerals are also added (remineralisation) from the food and waters ingested. Demineralisation can occur without destroying the structural integrity of a tooth but demineralised enamel is more likely to transmit heat, cold and pressure than normal enamel. If the demineralisation process is left intreated it will eventually result in a cavity. Natural remineralisation can be improved by a diet low in sugar and rich in natural, organic food. Fluoride treatments from the hygienist help the remineralisation process and can reverse early decay.
> Air abrasion. When decay has developed to the extent that remineralisation cannot treat it, air abrasion may be used to remove the decay and prepare the tooth for a sealant or filling. Air abrasion is similar to sand blasting at a microscopic level and involves directing a stream of tiny particles under pressure to remove small areas of dental decay. In most circumstances an anaesthetic is not required.
> Sealant. This is a synthetic resin used to protect the fissures and groves on the biting surface of teeth from the effects of acids and plaque. Normally preparation for sealants does not require the removal of any teeth structure.
> Bite splints. Teeth grinding (bruxism) is experienced by most people at some time in their lives but is often mild and does not cause heath problems. Night-time bruxism can be problematic and may cause significant damage to teeth. A bite splint, normally a hard acrylic cover over the upper or lower teeth, can be custom-made to act as a barrier between opposing teeth and protect against grinding at night-time or periods of stress.
> Inlays and onlays. Where a tooth has been damaged beyond the point where it can be repaired by a filling the only restoration option is to fit a prosthetic. Crowns are often used to restore badly damaged teeth but they involve paring away the coronal portion of a tooth and can involve removing substantial tooth structure. A more conservative approach is to remove the minimum tooth structure in order to eliminate decay and fill in the gap left with a inlay. An inlay is a prosthetic made to fit exactly in the gap left in the tooth and can be composed of metal or tooth-like porcelain. Where one or more cusps are involved the prosthetic is know as an onlay.
> Atraumatic tooth extraction. There are circumstances when teeth have to be removed and with an extraction there is always the risk of damage to the bone and tissue connected to the tooth. Atraumatic extraction techniques are designed to cause minimal damage to both bone and tissue as well as accelerating the healing after extraction. Preserving bone when extracting teeth is critical for patients being considered for implants.
