[yogipatel]

This headline is overly sensational — this treatment does not apply for what most people consider cavities (i.e. caries, bacterial decay). It only applies for the very early stage caries process where enamel is just beginning to become demineralized.

Tooth enamel is essentially a matrix that is hardened by mineralization. Caries initially demineralize the enamel, but as they progress they destroy the enamel as well. Once that enamel is gone, there is nothing left to mineralize. You can throw as much calcium, phosphate, electricity, etc at it and you won’t end up with any more enamel. The decay has to be removed and filled with something.

This proposed treatment only works for the very initial stages of demineralization, which are referred to as white spot lesions, since demineralization causes the enamel to become opaque. The current conservative treatment for white spot lesions is to be judicious with cleaning and possibly apply some additional fluoride, as the tooth simply needs to be remineralized. The researchers are claiming to be able to accelerate that remineralization, which is great, but is very, very far from saying that patients won't need fillings.

Source: I’m a 2nd year dental student.

Edit: formatting

[saidajigumi]

> The current conservative treatment for white spot lesions is to be judicious with cleaning

And I'll point out that my current dentist is the only one I've ever had (or known of) who actually bothers to rigorously teach his patients how to clean their teeth well. Most apparently don't believe this is possible or worth their time. Obviously that's not going to take with every patient, but it's really quite amazing the difference between thinking you're doing what needs done (yet having the hygienist grumble all the same), and actually getting the plaque off every time. Put another way, diligence != skill when it comes to dental hygiene.

[userbinator]

Most apparently don't believe this is possible or worth their time.

Or perhaps they would rather their patients come back with cavities so he/she can charge more to fix them? Here's an experience of mine that's relevant: I once had a dentist who told me I had a cavity and showed me a little black spot on one of my teeth; for whatever reason I declined that day and said I'd come sometime in the future when it was convenient, to fix it. In the meantime I was introduced by a friend to another dentist who was recommended because he was much cheaper, and so I went to him to fix the cavity - to which his response was, "that ain't no cavity", and promptly scraped the spot away with a pick. He also did an x-ray and showed my teeth were in perfect condition with no signs of any decay. This was a few years ago and I've not had any problems with my teeth since.

[e40]

Care to elaborate what the techniques your current dentist taught you?

[petercooper]

I recently switched dentist and my new dentist requires that you also have a six monthly appointment with a full-time hygienist also at the same site. I was very skeptical about this but ultimately learnt a lot and my teeth are becoming a lot better for it.

I am not entirely sure if most dentists would be good at delivering hygiene advice to the level of the hygienist (it's a special skill, after all), but I'm also not sure most patients would voluntarily see a hygienist, so it's a tricky problem.

[dschiptsov]

So, how are people a hundred years ago and back into distant past, or even nowadays people of remote villages in South Asia, unaware of the miracles of American dental industry, deat with demineralization issues?

Has it anything to do with a diet, particularly of consuming vegetable roots, such as ginger, or redis, of meat curries as a calcium source? Has it anything to do with gums health, to with consuming chilly pepers is related? How the third world people managed to survive up to this very day without that very costly help of American dental industry?

[tripzilch]

Unfortunately for Americans & the industry, the answer is in fact not, consuming more of something.

[rejschaap]

My guess would be no fizzy drinks and a lot less sugar.