Lesson #6: Should you Wait Before Filling A Cavity?
This is possible: reversible tooth decay.

Sometimes Waiting is Best.

A scenario: Our dentist sees a small cavity.  She gives me the option of filling the cavity or waiting.   My instinct was to fill it as soon as a cavity was spotted so it doesn’t get any larger.  

Not all cavities need filling. In fact, at their earliest stages, cavities can be stopped so they don’t advance beyond the outer layer of the tooth Cavities on our teeth may actually “remineralize”, disappear on their own, with good oral care. The first layer to wear away is the enamel. It can take 4 years from the first lesion til the cavity progresses to the next layer of the tooth and needs to be filled.

How to stop a cavity? Be a Cavity Cop--and arrest it! When a child brushes twice a day with fluoride, for 2 minutes, and is not high risk on the risk assessment, the cavity may never progress. So when a dentist “keeps an eye on the cavity for the next few visits”, this is another key time to be diligent toothbrushers and flouride -rinse users and to avoid sugary foods. Sometimes waiting is best.

For more great reading on this hopeful topic of oral health care go to the new oral health report:

http://www.dentaquest.com/pdfs/reports/reversible-decay.pdf/