Drill and Fill Alternatives for CAVITIES
- Alex Kelly
- Feb 3
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 2
The Following Information was Collaborated with
Dr. Hal Stewart, FACD & Dr. Adriana Corredor
Dr. Stewart is a holistic dentist practicing in Texas. He has studied at The Pankey institute, The Dawson Academy, The Las Vegas Institute, and the OBI Foundation for Bioesthetic Dentistry, among others.
He is a Fellow of the American College of Dentists, and is the founder and CEO of The Stewart Center for Minimally Invasive Dental Medicine, where he trains other dentists on biologic-systems focused, airway centered dentistry.
Dr. Stewart lectures extensively worldwide. He has written many articles over the years for publican in professional journals, and has contributed to scientific research studies.
He is a current affiliate and faculty member of The Breathe Institute, and teaching faculty member and clinical advisor for Vivos. He is the past president of the Texas Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and has achieved diplomate status with the American Sleep Breathing Academy. He is also currently working on his certification with the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine.
Dr. Adriana Corredor has trained at The University of the Pacific School of Dentistry, the L.D. Pankey Institute, the Hornbrook Group, the OBI Foundation, the FAHL Center in Brazil, and is a Breathe Institute “Breathe Baby” Affiliate.
She is an active member of the American Dental Association, The Academy of General Dentistry, the Greater Houston Dental Society, and the Texas Dental Association. And has achieved diplomate status with the American Sleep Breathing Academy.
IMPORTANT NOTE
This is not medical advice.
Cavities vary, and are extremely individualized. It is important to consult with your trusted provider, as the more severe a cavity the more havoc it can wreak on the entire body. The following holistic remedies are best suited for the early stages of cavity development. There are certainly cases where the conventional “drill and fill” is the best treatment.
Ozone Therapy
Ozone is an energized form of oxygen (03). In the atmosphere, it is formed naturally by the sun and works to filter out harmful UV rays. Ozone has powerful anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties. It is even produced by our own white blood cells to eliminate infections.
Many therapies in dentistry involve the elimination of infections. Ozone not only has the ability to effectively treat pathogens (even those resistant to other treatments), but is able to do so without any harmful byproducts. In addition, it increases circulation, enhances the immune response and promotes more rapid healing.
If used and applied properly, ozonated water, oxygen/ozone gas, and oils have proven to be very safe. As with all medical procedures, only your healthcare provider can determine if this procedure is right for you.
The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology
If it’s small enough, one of the most holistic approaches to cavities would be ozone therapy. If you can find a dentist near you that offers this service, they will most likely want to see your x-rays or take some in office to evaluate if ozone could be a good option.
Ozone destroys the bacteria without harming the tissues. It helps break down plaque that allows the bacteria to thrive. Without the bacteria and plaque, your saliva can naturally remineralize the teeth and strengthen enamel.
They will most likely want to see you for a follow up 3-6 months later to make sure all is working.
Hydroxyapatite Toothpaste
Hydroxyapatite is a naturally occurring mineral found in teeth. There is toothpaste that contains nano-hydroxyapatite that can help remineralize the tooth enamel, essentially filling in the tiny cracks and fissures in the enamel with hydroxyapatite particles. It strengths the enamel and prevents further decay.
There is some controversy when it comes to hydroxyapatite. We will look at that next. It is important to do your own research, and make the decision you feel most comfortable with. Certainly, there are times where the benefits may out weight the cons and vice versa. Only you and your trusted provider can come to that conclusion.
Hydroxyapatite Controversy
The European Commission Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety compiled studies on hydroxyapatite back in 2016. The following all come from that document (1).
In lab rats that were fed high amounts of N-HAP
“death of the animal occurred from 10,000mg/kg bw in both sexes as a result of cardiac and respiratory arrest.”
The above was a very high dose. Other studies with lower doses found NAHA affected lungs in similar ways: “in lungs, seven cases of bronchial associated lymphoid tissue proliferation were observed.”
NAHA was also found to create free radical damage in the liver, damage to kidney tissue, negatively affect red blood cells and platelets, and damage to DNA.
Silver Diamine Fluoride
Lastly, and probably the least truly “crunchy” of the three, is silver diamine fluoride (SDF). It is a liquid medication made of silver, fluoride, ammonia, and water (hence the least “crunchy” of the three). It kills bacteria and remineralizes tooth enamel.
SDF is often most successful in children. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, a single application of SDF will arrest between 47% and 90% of cavities, depending on the size and location (2).
SDF may only provide a temporary fix. One study showed a single application of SDF after six months and again after 24 months. The study showed that cavities that had been successfully arrested at the six month mark had reverted back 50% of the time to active cavities by the 24 month mark (3).
Typically, SDF is recommended as part of an ongoing cavity management plan, not a replacement to “drilling and filling.” If your child is at an age where they wouldn’t be able to tolerate the conventional treatment, SDF may be recommended to “buy some time.” Or it the cavity is present on a baby tooth that will fall out within a year, SDF could be used to avoid the need for drilling while still protecting against the spreading of infection.
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