Fillings can do more harm than good, admit dentists

The teeth on either side of a new filling might be at risk for decay, dental experts say. With amenities including massages, aromatherapy, heated leather chairs, and everything else a patient may need for a calm and relaxing dental experience, Dr. Saleh invites even the most dentist-averse patients to see how truly luxurious dental care can be. While, in this case, the advanced teeth whitening and restoration milling devices were considered to be worthwhile investments due to space they would save, Los Angeles cosmetic dental expert Dr. Sam Saleh explains that the usefulness of these machines extends far beyond space-saving.

British Dental Association spokesperson and Birmingham University professor Damien Walmsley saidthe research underscores the fact that dental intervention can be more harmful than beneficial, making more research necessary.

Fillings could do more harm than good, senior dentists have warned, as they called on colleagues to ensure they use up-to-date techniques.

Of the tooth surfaces where the decay of the enamel had been present originally, 57.3% had decay still in the enamel, while 42.7% had progressed into dentine.

The study found six out of 10 teeth which were next to a filling had also decayed after five years.

According to lead author Simen Kopperud of Oslo’s Nordic Institute of Dental Materials, the dental intervention may have led to issues in nearby teeth.

“Risk factors for caries development on tooth surfaces adjacent to newly placed class II composites – a pragmatic, practice-based study”, S Kopperud et al, Journal of Dentistry.

Nearly 30 percent of these needed filling. “Fillings are not an ideal solution but at the moment it’s the best solution we have”.

“Dentistry, like medicine, doesn’t stand still – it progresses via innovation, research, and best practice. Dentists need to keep up to date with the latest techniques to ensure they don’t damage other teeth when they do a filling”.

NHS Choices points out that if teeth are decayed, restorative treatment with fillings may be the only option.

However, dentists must be careful with their approach, using “minimal intervention” to reduce the chance of damaging teeth, they said.

Professor Walmsley said: “A tax on sugary drinks and food is a no-brainer in tackling tooth decay at source”. Other supporters include celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, a healthy-eating advocate, who said the “ball is firmly in the Government’s court” now.

Source: http://tvnewsroom.org/newslines/health/fillings-can-do-more-harm-than-good-admit-dentists-5223/

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