Are Dentists Doing Too Much Drilling?

Dental cavities were quite common in patients just 20 years ago, when oral hygiene and dental care technology just wasn't as good as it is today. However, in 2011, tooth decay is quite easy to avoid, especially if you practice good oral hygiene and visit your dentist each year for a dental exam.

Still, dentists are catching more decay than ever thanks to high-tech diagnostic tools designed to detect even the slightest hint of decay, known as dental caries or microcavities. 

While this may be good to assess a patient's risk of potential harmful cavities in the future, some dentists think treating microcavities on the spot could do more harm than good.

Dental fillings are painful enough already, but undergoing this procedure unnecessarily is becoming all too common. Treating small abnormalities in the teeth might actually cause even more damage than leaving it alone, which is why some dentists use the "watchful waiting" approach for microcavities.

Dr. Irwin Mindell, a New York City-based dentist has been practicing dentistry since the 1950’s. He also goes by the “watchful waiting” rule, and told ABC news that if the decay hasn’t reached the dentin (the layer below the tooth enamel), “you don’t treat, because it may take years and years and years to become something. A lot of stuff never goes any further.”

To learn more, read the full article: Microcavities - The Root of Unnecessary Dental Care?