Q. Are there any new treatments that help prevent tooth decay? What are these and how do they work?

A. Yes. Various dental treatments have emerged—and there are still some that are under development—that could treat decaying teeth and prevent tooth decay from occurring. One technique that is making so much buzz uses fluorescent light. Under this method, the light detects cavities that are developing even before they are detected by dental examinations or via x-rays, traditional means of detecting tooth decay. The good news about this is that our Corona dentist can now delay or reverse the decay process. Another new dental treatment is called “smart filling.” Under this process, fluoride is slowly released around fillings and in other adjacent teeth to prevent tooth decay.