Can I reverse this minor decay in my tooth?

I had my regular checkup yesterday, and as the hygenist was checking for cavities, she found one spot that she thought was just barely sticking, indicating that it could be decay. She wasn't sure, and said that it could just be sticking in the groove a bit. Also nothing showed up on the xray that was just taken. The dentist then looked at it and decided that it should be filled "just to be safe," and that it is a "very small spot."





I've been researching a bit, and it sounds like there is a chance that the decay could be reversed by using flouride as long as it isn't past the enamel. Judging by what they had to say, I'm guessing this isn't past the enamel. Would the explorer (pokey metal thing) actually stick in the tooth if the decay is only in the enamel? It just barely stuck at all.





I'm a little fussy about this, since I haven't had a new filling in probably 15 years (had an old one redone recently) and brush and floss religiously. I really don't want another filling.

Can I reverse this minor decay in my tooth?
yes, an explorer would stick in the tooth if the decay was only in the enamel, but only if the spot is big enough.


i have several areas on my molars that have deeper grooves, and lots of staining. it's totally natural to have staining in deeper grooves.


anyway, you could have them prescribe you a fluoride toothpaste (about $13.00/tube) and you could use it at night before you go to bed.


or, you could just get some ACT rinse and use it before you go to bed and again in the morning.


this kind of decay that you are describing is called incipient caries. sometimes they can be reversed.


you should talk to your dentist about it. the worst thing that happens is that you go back in 6mos and you need a filling.


good luck!!
Reply:Enamel is the outer layer, how can it doesn't pass enamel?
Reply:Some dentist do fillings just to be safe while other dentists are more conservative and wait until there is for sure a positive stick or indication on the x-ray. Yes, it may be possible to remineralize very slight demineralization w/ fluoride. However, it will not reverse complete decay that has already started. But, it wouldn't hurt you any to wait 6 months and see if it changes. As long as u go back for your 6 month check up u will be fine. If you have any cold sensitivity in that tooth then get it fixed. At the office I work at we will watch areas like these and usually in 6 months they will be positive cavities but still very small and we will fill them or lots of the time they look exactly the same and we don't have to do anything. An easy way to help yourself is not to rinse after your brush, just spit and try not to eat/drink for 30 minutes. The fluoride in you toothpaste used daily works better than weekly or monthly treatments/more consistent.
Reply:If it is a deep groove or pit, dirty things will always get stuck down there no matter how much you brush or how much fluoride you deliver there. In such cases, best seal it off so nothing dirty can get in.





If that area of decay is real small, a dentist will probably do a very conservative prep (just open up the groove a little bit), etch the area, bond it, and flow a bit of light-cured bonded filling material or sealant in there. Once properly sealed, you probably won't ever get decay there ever again.





At the pediatric hospital I used to work at, we do sealant programs for kids and this sort of enameloplasty/sealant procedure is done routinely. It helps tremendously as a preventive measure.
Reply:Yes you can reverse it! Dont get it filled yet. Ask the dentist for prescription strength fluoride rinse or prescription strength fluoride toothpaste.


Brush 2 or more times daily, floss daily, and every night before bed (after brushing) use the prescription strength fluoride rinse. Do that every night and then go back when you need more FL rinse and at your next check up have them look at it again.


Ask the dentist if they have a Diagnodent which is a machine that can sense cavities invisible to the naked eye.


Tell the dentist you would like to try to reverse the process before just filling it. The dentist sells fluoride rinse in the office, buy it. If they dont sell it go to a different office or buy over the counter cheap fluoride rinse (not as strong but good too).