Why Does Your Local Dentist Recommend Minimally Invasive Dental Procedures?
What are minimally invasive dental procedures?
In dentistry, the minimal intervention protocol and sometimes also referred to as “minimally invasive dentistry,” is a philosophy of care that we follow at Ivory Dental. In short, this means that when possible, our doctor and staff recommend dental procedures which preserve as much of your natural tooth structure as possible before moving on to more invasive procedures.
In the majority of patient treatments, this means things like:
Recommending preventative treatment like proper oral hygiene habits and sealants to protect against cavities
Recommending composite "white" fillings for cavities instead of amalgam "metal" fillings because they often require less damage to your healthy tooth structure.
Recommending a nightguard or orthodontic treatment to alleviate symptoms of bruxism or TMJ before a surgery
It’s important to recognize that minimal intervention or minimally invasive does not mean there is no intervention or nothing invasive. It also does not mean the procedures are less effective. The core of the philosophy is to try as many practical means as possible to minimize damage and loss to the natural tooth structure. This means your local Winter Park dentist, following a minimal intervention philosophy, still performs root canals, provides fillings, and places crowns – but when a condition is borderline or challenging to diagnose, the dentist will first recommend the less invasive path forward before escalating to other procedures.
Consequently, the less invasive or minimal intervention philosophy also typically results in a lower cost approach for the patients as well. As major procedures or invasive treatments can typically be more time-consuming and require more preparation or additional work by a dental laboratory – trying a less costly procedure generally is also financially beneficial to the patient.
I’m still in pain - what if the minimal intervention procedure didn’t work?
If you're still feeling the symptoms of your toothache or sensitivity following a procedure, it's important to remember that the minimal intervention philosophy was an attempt to solve the issue before escalating to a more invasive procedure. In practice, this can manifest in situations such as:
Filling a deep cavity with a composite filling in hopes of avoiding a root canal and crown
Managing jaw pain with a nightguard in hopes of avoiding TMJ surgery or orthodontics to shift your teeth
Bonding a minor crack on a tooth with composite resin in hopes of avoiding an extraction or replacement
The attempt to utilize a less invasive and less expensive procedure is not always successful, and a major procedure can be needed to solve the patient's issue. If you are still feeling the symptoms or even new symptoms from a procedure (most commonly new or continued sensitivity after a filling), it's important to notify your local dentist to help you take appropriate action and escalate the dental procedure as necessary.
My local dentist didn't recommend a less invasive procedure; why?
Despite following this minimal philosophy of care, not all situations fit a minimally invasive approach. While the approach provides guidance, we also focus on your long-term and overall dental health. Put simply: Does it provide longevity? Performing the minimum necessary for a single situation might only be a temporary solution and, in some cases, give a false sense of security, leading to the same or more extensive procedure in the future.
One such situation we see with some patients is when a tooth has multiple fillings needing to be replaced. While replacing those multiple fillings with slightly larger fillings could lead to preserving more tooth structure compared to a full dental crown, doing so could increase the chance of a fracture within the remaining tooth structure, retains a chance of fillings falling out, and the patient's dental history might indicate cavities are likely to form on that tooth again. In these cases, a full dental crown may be recommended to provide the patient with a stronger and more sustainable solution.
It's important to talk to your local Winter Park dentist about your specific situation and why specific procedures are recommended for you. A lower-cost or less invasive procedure is always appealing. However, an experienced dentist and staff can account for a holistic and long-term solution rather than "spot-fixing" a specific problem area.
I just needed a filling; why do I need a root canal now?
Following the minimal intervention philosophy can sometimes cause patient confusion leading to a conclusion that harm was done or a problem was misdiagnosed. One such situation commonly manifests in pain or sensitivity after a dental filling. When a cavity is close to the pulp and/or nerve of your tooth or if the tooth has had previous dental work – the pulp may not handle the additional trauma from restorative dental work. Dental fillings require drilling to place a successful restoration – and while the risk is vastly outweighed by the benefit of filling the untreated cavity – the additional trauma can add to existing pressure from teeth grinding, biting forces, and previous dental work to causing the pulp of the tooth to no longer withstand the stress. As a result, a root canal may be needed to save the tooth and restore comfort to the patient.
In practice, sensitivity or pain after a filling is part of the normal immune response due to inflammation. Therefore, diagnosing these symptoms can be tricky for the patient and your local dentist. We can again apply the philosophy of minimally invasive dentistry to remedy the situation. When a patient has an issue after a filling, we proceed with:
Allowing adequate time (typically 1-2 weeks) after a filling for the body to go through its natural healing and adjustment as inflammation and some sensitivity are normal
Checking the occlusion or “bite” of a recently completed filling to see if the pain is caused by a pressure point from changing the way your teeth touch when your bite is closed. Often, a patient may not “bite down” in a dental chair (due to anxiety and being numb from anesthetic) the same way they naturally do. As a result, your local dentist can make a small adjustment to by shaving down the synthetic filling material to restore your bite to an even state.
Checking the surrounding and opposing areas of the tooth to check if the pain is coming from another tooth or “referred pain” is felt in one area but actually coming from another
Re-doing the dental filling in the case that there was an issue with the curing or bonding of the composite resins used for the filling. In some rare cases, the presence of extra saliva or blood can interfere with the advanced bonding techniques and materials. This step does require drilling back on the tooth, but your local dentist will be mindful of only touching the minimum area of natural tooth structure as possible.
Performing an endodontic diagnosis to look for symptoms of needing a root canal, typically with testing for sensitivity or pain to both pressure and temperature. In some cases, your local dentist will refer you to an endodontist or endodontic specialist for this evaluation. If a diagnosis concludes a root canal is recommended, then the patient would proceed with the root canal therapy to remedy the pain.
This process is designed not only to minimize disturbance to your natural teeth but also looks to avoid the additional costs and dental visits associated with a root canal treatment.
While your Winter Park dentist will be happy to discuss the minimal intervention philosophy of care and provide specific recommendations for you – please remember that the ultimate minimally invasive procedure is a good oral hygiene routine with proper brushing and flossing! In addition, these minimally invasive techniques can only be applied when your local dentist has the chance to catch issues early before a situation deteriorates – this means visiting your Winter Park dentist regularly (usually every 6 months for a checkup and cleaning) is always recommended!
Email Us!