Minimally Invasive Dentistry: Treatment, Cost and Side Effects

The reduction of enamel from the surface of the tooth to weakens the entire tooth complex. The more tooth structure removed the greater the risk of fracture of the tooth, no matter the type of restorative material which is placed to repair the tooth loss. The aim of minimally invasive dentistry, also known as micro dentistry, is to promote healthy structure of tooth, to prevent this reduction of enamel from the surface of the tooth. In this procedure, the dentists make use of better dental materials, that further promises healthy tooth by reducing the risk of tooth fracture. With this, there is no need for future repairs as well. This even saves time and money. It focuses on prevention, remineralization & minimal dentist intervention. Studies have shown that dentists are currently spending most of their time replacing old restorations. Minimally invasive dentistry aims to prevent this as well. Minimally invasive dentistry techniques involve Remineralization, Air abrasion, Sealants, Inlays and onlays, and blint splints. The primary goal of all of these techniques is to reduce the need for future repair and reduce the risk of fracturing the tooth, due to undermining the strength of the tooth complex.

First, your risk of tooth decay will be evaluated by your dentist. Strategies will then be used by your dentist to prevent or reduce tooth decay. The techniques involved in minimally invasive dentistry are given above, and they will be detailed here. Remineralization is performed to restore minerals. It is done to fix the issues done by the process of demineralization. A crucial part in remineralization is played by fluoride. Your dentist uses air abrasion to take out your tooth cannot be remineralized. Sealant fits into the grooves and depressions of the tooth and act as a barrier to protect your tooth against acid and plaque. Sealant can be placed at any time, and do not require cutting of the tooth. Inlays and onlays do not require dentists to take out as much of the tooth structure when they are restoring a tooth. Dentists can create bite splints to prevent you from grinding your teeth, which may cause them serious damage.

There is no eligibility for this treatment. Minimally invasive dentistry is even used by many dentists in their everyday practice. This is because this topic has been researched thoroughly and the results show that there is always a stronger bond to enamel than dentin. This is why practitioners must maintain the integrity of the tooth to maximize the enamel remaining so that their restorations are bonded to the tooth in a stronger manner, and along with reducing risks this also reduces the need for future repair. The toxic effects of restorative materials themselves on the pulpal tissue has been well researched, and it can cause pulpal necrosis. Minimally invasive dentistry also results in the prevention of caries, reduction in cariogenic bacteria, remineralization of early lesions, minimum surgical intervention of cavitated lesion and repair rather than replacement of defective restorations. This is why it is always better to consult a dentist who is experienced in the ways of minimally invasive dentistry.

Like previously mentioned, there is no eligibility for minimally invasive dentistry. Minimally invasive dentistry is just a way of dentistry, a better way, and in the spirit of dentistry itself. The damages in human tooth are critical and that’s what many famous dentists have to say. This is why you should always make sure that your dentist used minimally invasive methods like given above in his day-to-day procedure, not only for his benefit but also for yours. It is recommended that every dentistry procedure should potentially be made minimally invasive, and so, nobody is not eligible for minimally invasive dentistry.

Minimally invasive dentistry does not add any risks or side effects to a dental procedure. However, there are some exceptions. Hard tissue lasers are relatively new in dentistry, and can be used to easily remove decayed areas of the tooth with minimal tooth loss and with the lack of smear layer to allow the bonding of restorative material with higher bond strengths and decreased marginal leakage. Hence, this is one of the methods of minimally invasive dentistry. However, it is argued that there is a much greater risk of technique sensitivity resulting in highly variable bond strengths.

Minimally invasive dentistry does not alter in any way the post-treatment guidelines of a dental procedure, so the post-treatment guidelines of a normal procedure would be the same as the post-treatment guidelines of the same procedure but using minimally invasive techniques. For example, if a certain dental procedure requires you to consume only liquids and soft food, using minimally invasive techniques would not change that, as minimally invasive techniques are used just to reduce risk of fracture of the tooth, no matter the type of restorative material which is placed to repair the tooth loss, as well as to prevent the need for future repairs, saving both time, and money.

Like previously mentioned, using minimally invasive techniques for a certain process will not alter anything about it, except for the positive factors. However, there are some exceptions. Hard tissue lasers, which have also been mentioned above, are a relatively new method in minimally invasive dentistry, and it brings with it new risks, such as it resulting in highly variable bond strengths. Anything caused by these risks can significantly increase the time required to recover. Also, it is important to check the credentials of the dentists who will be using minimally invasive methods on you, and you must also make sure he or she has adequate experience. Any mistake caused by the dentist could also cause longer recovery periods.

Using minimally invasive dental methods are, in the long run, much cheaper than normal methods of dentistry it is near about 200 to 3000 rupees. Studies have shown that dentists are currently spending most of their time replacing old restorations. Using minimally invasive techniques can prevent this, saving both time and money. In recent days, there have been advancements in technology to ensure these dentistry treatments are done with ease. However, the lack of money is a concern. For example, people seem to be ready to pay for a filling. They do not want to invest in a treatment that could spare them the expense of fillings. Using minimally invasive dentistry is financially better as it reduces risks, and hence chances of other injuries. This, along with other reasons listed in this article, shows that minimally invasive dental procedures are infinitely superior to normal procedures in all aspects.

The results of minimally invasive dental procedures are, compared to normal dental procedures, more permanent, as they minimize the structural tooth loss during the restorative process of a tooth. Is it has been rightly said by many noted dentists, as soon as we cut into a tooth we have sentenced that tooth to a lifetime of being replaced, repaired and treated with more and more aggressive and costly techniques. Normal dental procedures, in this case, would mean that the results would e less than permanent, and like stated, would Sentence the tooth to a lifetime of being replaced, repaired, and treated with more and more aggressive and costly techniques. However, using minimally invasive techniques would mean that this will no longer be necessary, and the results can be more permanent.

The only other alternative to minimally invasive dentistry is normal procedures, and we have already discussed how those are inferior when compared to minimally invasive procedures.