Tooth cavity is a bacterial infection that persists in tooth and leads to degradation of the tooth. A new clinical trial has been conducted at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry which is offering patients with a new and less painful treatment option to cure cavities in between tooth. Till today, the only way to access these cavities is to numb a patient with a shot and drill away tooth structure. The new treatment termed as resin infiltration is a new way to treat small cavities present in between teeth. The resin infiltration is an FDA-approved and commercially available product made in Germany. It is widely used in clinical trials in the United States. The largest clinical trial of this product is carried out in the US by UAB Clinical Research Center enrolling 150 patients in the study.

Resin infiltration allows a plastic perforated sheet between the teeth with the cavities. The cavity is first cleared by pushing the gel through perforated sheet preparing the surface to accept the resin infiltrant. The tooth is then packed by pushing the liquid resin through the perforated sheet. A dental curing light is allowed to fall on the tooth to cure the resin, and hence the treatment is complete. There is no drilling and anesthesia required in this procedure. This new system helps restore teeth, but still, there are a few prerequisites for patients looking to dodge the drill. This treatment works only on smooth surfaces with small cavities. The large cavities and top of teeth can't be cleared by this procedure as the liquid resin is unable to build a surface.

"When we develop cavities between teeth, sometimes we have to go through the tooth, and we end up damaging healthy tooth structure. This new system allows to skip the drilling and helps preserve the structure. I never thought this would be possible for dentistry. In my 24 years of practicing, this changes everything we've done so far. It's marvelous", said Augusto Robles, DDS, assistant professor and director of Operative Dentistry Curriculum. "Since this is a no-shot and no-drill treatment, it is popular with patients. And since no tooth is removed, it is a very conservative procedure. This is one of the most innovative products in dentistry I've seen in a while", exclaimed Nathaniel Lawson, DMD, School of Dentistry Division Director of Bio materials.

Both Robles and Lawson agree that if this new technique can be adopted nationally by practicing dentists, it could be a game-changer in the future of dentistry. The UAB School of Dentistry continues to be at the forefront of innovation and patient care in the field of dentistry.