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Some early, incipient cavities between teeth can actually repair themselves. If interproximal (between teeth) dental caries (decay) is discovered in its early stages on a dental radiograph (x-ray) it can often be arrested if the cause (e.g., chronic sugar consumption) is removed and the patient exercises good oral hygiene. The use of prescription strength topical fluoride and other remineralizing agents can also help facilitate repair and prevention of future cavities. Most dentists agree that these early lesions should not be restored to avoid unnecessary expense, discomfort and damage to teeth. When a carious tooth is restored, the tooth will become weakened and more susceptible to future fracture. It is important that the patient not miss his regular cleanings and examinations so these areas and his overall dental health can be monitored. If it is discovered later that one of these early cavities have decayed beyond the degree that they can remineralize then they can usually be restored with no additional loss in tooth structure compared to restoration when they were first noted. The decision to restore a tooth with decay is made by your Dentist based on your particular circumstances. Some Dentists are more aggressive and elect to restore these lesions so if you are concerned about this you may want to consider a second opinion.
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