title: Is a drill-less dental filling possible?
abstract: Dental caries, a bacterial process that results in the acidic destruction of tooth structure, has historically been managed by the mechanical excavation of diseased tooth structure and then restoration with a synthetic material. The mechanical excavation of the infected site is most commonly achieved by a dental handpiece, or "drill"; this handpiece may induce stress and anxiety in many patients. Alternatively, a drill-less filling will involve the utilization of silver diamine fluoride (38%) to arrest and prevent dental caries, followed by restoration with a bonded filling material to achieve adequate seal at the lesion margins. This is a minimally invasive procedure that addresses both microbial and mechanical issues posed by dental caries.
authors: Department of Restorative Dentistry and Biomaterials, University of Texas at Houston Dental Branch, 6516 M. D. Anderson Blvd., Ste. 493, Houston, TX 77030, United States. Ryan.Quock@uth.tmc.edu
authors: Ryan L
authors: RL
authors: Quock
authors: Shalizeh A
authors: SA
authors: Patel
authors: Felipe A
authors: FA
authors: Falcao
authors: Juliana A
authors: JA
authors: Barros