# New Method of Treating Dental Caries?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-method-of-treating-dental-caries/540453>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 23, 2010, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-method-of-treating-dental-caries/540453 "2010-05-23T13:59:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2010, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-method-of-treating-dental-caries/540453/1 "2010-05-23T13:59:43Z")

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I saw something about this, and asked my dentist-he was unaware of this treatment. I would love to see it, because I HATE dental drills-something about the whining noise I find extremely unpleasant.  
The gist of this was: instead of the dentist drilling out the rotten tooth material, he applies an acid solution, that dissolves the rotten area and leaves the healthy tooth material untouched. He then applies the filling and you are done. No drilling, no pain, no noise.  
Anyone know about this?

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**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2010, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-method-of-treating-dental-caries/540453/2 "2010-05-23T14:05:32Z")

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laser drilling is a developing technology that is applicable in some cases.

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**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2010, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-method-of-treating-dental-caries/540453/3 "2010-05-23T14:21:07Z")

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> [@ralph124c](#):
>
> I saw something about this, and asked my dentist-he was unaware of this treatment. I would love to see it, because I HATE dental drills-something about the whining noise I find extremely unpleasant.  
> The gist of this was: instead of the dentist drilling out the rotten tooth material, he applies an acid solution, that dissolves the rotten area and leaves the healthy tooth material untouched. He then applies the filling and you are done. No drilling, no pain, no noise.  
> Anyone know about this?

IANAD, but I’d be awfully nervous about using an acid strong enough to clean out the rotten area instead of a drill.

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**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2010, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-method-of-treating-dental-caries/540453/4 "2010-05-23T15:32:09Z")

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There used to be a lot of talk of a vaccine against tooth decay but I guess that did not work out.

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**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-method-of-treating-dental-caries/540453/5 "2010-05-23T16:24:33Z")

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ianad

i did ask a dentally smart person and they never heard of using acid to remove decay. they do use acid to etch teeth to apply composite fillings or applying sealants, it is used for just seconds.

i think the sealants have been effective when applied to new teeth at preventing a lot of decay.