Dental knowledge: what you should know about caries

Preserving tooth substance and stopping caries early.

The sooner incipient caries is spotted, the better. A highly fluid resin that penetrates enamel caries can block the diffusion pathways for cariogenic acids. The aim of the treatment is to preserve healthy tooth substance and stop the caries early.

Caries infiltration is a micro-invasive technique based on the principle of treating incipient decay as early as possible, before the dreaded hole in the tooth appears. Once it has hardened, the resin that has penetrated the enamel prevents caries-causing germs from advancing further, along with the carbohydrates they need to multiply and the acid they produce, which is responsible for demineralising tooth substance.

With this form of caries treatment, drilling is not necessary.

Answered briefly

Frequently asked questions

Does early caries always have to be drilled?

Not in every case. With caries infiltration a highly fluid resin is introduced into the enamel caries and blocks the diffusion paths for the acids that cause caries. Drilling is not necessary with this form of caries treatment.

When is it too late for caries infiltration?

The method is based on treating incipient tooth decay as early as possible, before the dreaded hole in the tooth develops. The sooner incipient caries is discovered, the better. It is a microinvasive method intended to preserve healthy tooth substance.

How does the resin stop the caries?

Once it has hardened, the resin that has penetrated prevents the germs that cause caries from advancing further. The carbohydrates these germs need in order to multiply, and the acid they produce as a metabolic product, no longer reach the deeper layers either. This acid is responsible for demineralisation, that is the decalcification of the tooth substance.