LEEDS, UK: Though dental fillings are an established method of treating the presence of dental caries in permanent dentition, their usefulness for treating caries in primary dentition remains under debate. A new study has cast further doubt on the appropriateness of this approach, suggesting that there is no evidence that conventional fillings are more effective in stopping further caries and/or pain in children than other treatment modalities are.
The study analysed the results of the FiCTION (Filling Children’s Teeth: Indicated or Not) trial, which involved 1,144 UK-residing children between 3 and 8 years old who suffered from caries. Each participant was randomly assigned one of three treatment options for the duration of the trial (which lasted up to three years for some children): the standard “drill and fill” approach, which involves drilling out the decayed tissue; a minimally invasive approach of sealing the caries under a metal crown or filling; and the avoidance of any fillings being placed while also emphasising a reduction in sugar intake and the necessity of taking greater care of the child’s oral health.
A total of 450 participants reported that they continued to experience further caries and pain. There were no significant differences between the outcomes for each of the three treatment groups.
“Our study shows that each way of treating decay worked to a similar level but that children who get tooth decay at a young age have a high chance of experiencing toothache and abscesses regardless of the way the dentist manages the decay,” said Prof. Nicola Innes, chair of paediatric dentistry at the University of Dundee School of Dentistry and lead author of the study.
“What is absolutely clear from our trial is that the best way to manage tooth decay is not by drilling it out or sealing it in—it’s by preventing it in the first place,” Innes added.
The study, titled “Child caries management: A randomized controlled trial in dental practice”, was published online on 26 November 2019 in the Journal of Dental Research, ahead of inclusion in an issue.
Tags:
SEOUL, South Korea/BIRMINGHAM, Ala., U.S.: Root canal treatments currently rely on clotted blood to fill the empty tooth canal. In order to find a more ...
TEL AVIV, Israel: Dental caries is among the costliest and most widespread bacterial diseases worldwide. In a new study, researchers have developed novel ...
ALEXANDRIA, Va., U.S.: Protecting children against the early onset of dental caries is something all dentists should consider a priority. According to the ...
GOTHENBURG, Sweden: Obesity is a medical concern that may lead to numerous health problems, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. A recent study ...
PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.: It doesn’t take much searching on the Internet to find that chewing gum is a contentious subject. In a recent study that could help ...
BELFAST, UK: According to a new study by researchers at Queen’s University Belfast, aspirin could reverse the effects of dental caries. According to the ...
FORT MYERS, Fla., US: Although many college students recognise the impact that lifestyle choices have on oral health, minority students often have limited ...
MELBOURNE, Australia: In the first large-scale study to look at the oral microbiome, researchers from Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) have ...
BIRMINGHAM, Ala., USA: There is a recommendation for children to have a dental visit by 6 months of age, but there is insufficient evidence of improved ...
LONDON, UK: Despite improvements in treatments, intra-bony defects are associated with progression of periodontal disease and tooth loss unless they are ...
Live webinar
Thu. 18 July 2024
8:00 pm EST (New York)
Live webinar
Tue. 6 August 2024
6:00 pm EST (New York)
Live webinar
Tue. 13 August 2024
7:00 pm EST (New York)
Live webinar
Wed. 21 August 2024
9:00 am EST (New York)
Dr. Jim Lai DMD, MSc(Perio), EdD, FRCD(C)
Live webinar
Wed. 28 August 2024
8:00 pm EST (New York)
Live webinar
Mon. 2 September 2024
5:00 am EST (New York)
Live webinar
Tue. 3 September 2024
11:00 am EST (New York)
To post a reply please login or register