One of the biggest fears that often extend throughout dentistry is how permanent procedures can be. For patients with severe tooth decay, creating trust in their dentist’s judgment and opting into invasive procedures can be anxiety-inducing. Treating complex dental problems also poses some challenges for dentists, as excessive tooth removal remains a common problem in many practices today, even with the best professional judgment in mind. Excessive tooth removal can lead to some unintended consequences for the patient, often resulting in more treatment procedures and costs. 

Dentists in this position need better ways to navigate the need for complex restorations with better, less invasive solutions. Conservative dentistry in these cases may be able to help correct this problem entirely. 

Defining Conservative Dentistry: What Is It? 

Conservative dentistry is a specialty that focuses on only using minimally invasive methods to treat oral health problems. These procedures work to only remove or treat the affected areas, leaving healthy tooth structures behind. Leaving behind a healthy tooth structure increases the success rate of many dental procedures because preserving the natural tooth structure often improves the patient’s oral health and allows them to keep their smile intact. 

So, why isn’t conservative dentistry used everywhere? This issue often results from the dentists’ lack of experience in performing complex tooth restorations or minimally invasive methods. Many dentists often have to rely on repeatable procedures that are known to be successful to help manage the dental problems they face, including the heavy influx of patients in their offices, the demands of their patient’s needs, and the financial struggles of managing both patient’s dental care and their business. Most of the procedures used often rely on excessive tooth removal to perform the procedures they are trained in, and it’s because of this reliance on older procedures that the inherent problems faced aren’t truly resolved. 

The Benefits of Conservative Dentistry In the Office

Conservative dentistry attempts to change that by working within the infrastructure of the dental office and changing it from the inside out. By approaching patients with more conservative options, patients can experience an overall more personalized experience at the office. This means that with patients that face problems such as gum disease, tooth decay, and other problems, the dentist they work with can implement better methods of management, allowing patients to experience benefits such as: 

• Reduced Dental Costs: Conservative methods can be cheaper than more invasive ones and provide patients with alternatives that their insurance companies can cover. 
• Improved Preservative Measures: Preservative measures are the ultimate goal of any dentist, and conservative treatments can help improve overall tooth care by healing the natural tooth and helping patients care for their teeth better. 
• Better Aesthetic Function: In some cases, conservative measures can improve aesthetics, as many minimally invasive methods focus on finer details and aesthetic values. 
• More Natural-Looking Smiles: Overall, patients, through minimally invasive methods, can experience a smile that is naturally theirs with reduced costs and more health benefits. 

If you are unhappy with your oral health, one of the best things you can do is visit your local general dentist today to learn about your treatment options with conservative dentistry.