Minimally Invasive Dentistry

At Plunk & Dragan Smiles, we are happy to offer minimally-invasive dental treatment options. In addition to traditional dental restorative options like crowns and fillings, we offer drill-less dentistry techniques like Silver Diamine Fluoride, Hall crown technique, and ICON resin infiltration. These options may not be the right fit for every child or every tooth, but by focusing on minimally-invasive techniques, Dr. Dragan can ensure your child feels safe and comfortable.

 

• SDF (Silver Diamine Fluoride): Some patients who have active tooth decay may be eligible for an alternative treatment that uses Silver Diamine Fluoride.  FDA cleared in August of 2014, SDF became commercially available to dental professionals in April of 2015 as Advantage Arrest by Elevate Oral Care.  Compared to a traditional filling that requires shots of local anesthetic and drilling of tooth structure, this treatment is non-invasive and more comfortable for the patient.  It is a liquid that is simply brushed on to the cavity that can stop current decay and also prevent new decay in the future.        

  Pros: SDF is quick, painless, non-invasive, and can stop tooth decay and help prevent recurrent decay. SDF may be a good alternative for apprehensive or “pre-cooperative” children until they are ready for traditional fillings

  Cons: SDF permanently stains cavities black. SDF does not restore tooth form or function, so large holes that trap food may still eventually require a traditional restoration when the child is ready. SDF requires repeat application for maximum efficacy. SDF can not be used in the presence of infection or decay into the nerve.

 

• Hall Stainless Steel Crowns: The Hall technique can be used on some of our patients. It allows us to place a silver crown without any numbing or shots, and without using a dental drill. The cement used to place the crown traps and stops the cavity from growing and the baby teeth naturally adjust to the fit of the crown over time. This minimally invasive technique has been proven in scientific studies to be just as effective in treating primary teeth in certain situations, and with less discomfort and time than traditional methods.

 

• ICON resin infiltration: WHAT IS ICON? ICON resin infiltration is a minimally invasive restorative treatment for post-orthodontic white-spot lesions (WSLs) and certain congenital hypocalcified enamel lesions (“hypo” spots). WSLs are associated with subsurface enamel porosities caused by a cyclical imbalance between demineralization and remineralization of the enamel, resulting from poor hygiene and associated plaque, bacteria, and acids. With time, remineralization at the outer surface of the tooth decreases the access of calcium and other ions to deeper portions of the enamel, eventually arresting the lesion. The lesions look white because there is a scattering of light at the subsurface of the demineralized enamel.

  How Does It Work?

  In a nutshell, the procedure involves the use of an etchant to erode the surface of the lesion for the purpose of exposing the lesion porosities. The lesions are areas where minerals can’t access deeper portions of the enamel; they look white because of the way light scatters when it hits the lesions.

  ICON corrects the discoloration by infiltrating the enamel and filling in lesions with a tooth-colored resin. Once the procedure is complete, your child’s teeth should have a significantly more uniform appearance than they did before. Most importantly, all of this can be completed without dental numbing or removal of tooth structure (drilling)!