What is Minimally Invasive Dentistry?
Minimally Invasive Dentistry is a modern approach to dental care that focuses on preventing cavities and gum disease rather than just treating them after they happen.
This method emphasizes keeping your natural teeth healthy and strong by catching problems early and using gentle treatments like fluoride, sealants, and special rinses to stop decay in its tracks.
Instead of the traditional “drill and fill” approach, minimally invasive dentistry aims to preserve as much of your natural tooth structure as possible, resulting in less discomfort, fewer procedures, and healthier teeth that last a lifetime.
By treating dental disease as something that can be prevented and managed, this patient-centered approach helps you avoid the costly cycle of fillings, crowns, and tooth loss that often comes with waiting until problems become severe.
Changing Patients Lives With Minimally Invasive Dentistry
Last week, I was driving in the car and listening to two physicians discuss how patient treatment in medicine has changed and is continuing to change rapidly. Their conversation centered on minimally invasive treatments. An invasive procedure is typically a surgical procedure and involves extensive cutting and lengthy procedures. Through the use of minimally invasive techniques such as laparoscopy, many traditional surgeries are now performed with less trauma and in less time. The benefits of approaches like this are immense.
I begin to think about minimally invasive dental procedures and how they have changed my life and the lives of my patients.
Let’s spend a few minutes talking about minimally invasive dentistry.
The phrase centers around preventing a problem before it starts. Early detection of cavities enables treatment at their earliest stages. Using advanced diagnostic tools, like digital X-rays and laser imaging, dentists can identify problems long before they become visible or symptomatic. This proactive approach minimizes the need for larger, more invasive procedures down the line.
In my office, we use a digital scanner or impression to allow me to see details that I could not ever see by simply looking in the mouth. I can turn a scan on its end, so it is as if I were standing on your tongue looking at your teeth. I’ve found cavities and defects that I never would have seen before. I can share the same view with you, and we can discuss potential treatment options.
Guided Implant Procedures: A Great Example of Minimally Invasive Dentistry
One of the best examples of minimally invasive dentistry as a counterpart to medicine is guided implant procedures.
When I was one of the first general dentists in this area to place implants, it was rather rudimentary.
Procedures were long and involved for the doctor, staff, and most importantly, the patient.
Guided procedures use computer-assisted technology to plan and execute dental surgeries with greater precision than traditional methods. We use 3D images of the patient’s mouth, which show exquisite detail. These images are taken using specialized machines that focus on detail. These pictures are then used to create a virtual model of the patient’s jaw and teeth, allowing for precise implant placement.
I participate in an online meeting with my lab, at which we brainstorm to create the best outcome for the patient. Once the digital plan is in place, a custom-made guide is printed on a 3-D printer. This guide is often designed to fit precisely over the patient’s teeth and gums during the procedure. The guide has pre-drilled holes that direct my instruments during the visit, ensuring that every step of the implant placement is performed at the optimal angle, depth, and location.
Rather than stopping a procedure and taking X-rays to ensure proper placement, all of this work is done by me before you ever walk into the office.
I know the manufacturer and size of the implant, of which there are hundreds, well in advance. I can review the treatment before you come in and not have to make on-the-spot decisions.
You benefit from reduced discomfort and faster healing. In fact, most patients are amazed at how easy such a complex procedure can be.
M.I.D. – A Win-Win For Both Patient and Dentist
Those of you who know me know that I embrace technology and blend it with common sense and “old-fashioned” patient care.
Digital scans and minimally invasive dentistry become a win-win for the dentist and the patient. I invite you to join the many patients who have discovered the uniqueness of our office.
Please call us at 440-951-7856 to schedule a meeting at your convenience. I look forward to talking with you.
Jeffrey Gross, DDS, FAGD, is an Ohio-licensed general dentist and is on the staff of Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine.