At BDS Dental in Golders Green, we believe that the best restoration is no restoration at all. Our minimally invasive approach means we treat the underlying causes of decay rather than simply repairing the damage it leaves behind — helping you keep more of your natural tooth structure for life.
This philosophy underpins everything we do at our practice on Finchley Road, NW11, and it is one of the reasons patients come to us from Hampstead, Hampstead Garden Suburb, and across North London.
Tooth decay is both a disease and a source of physical damage — and the two require different approaches. Conventional dentistry has historically focused on the damage: drilling out the decayed area and filling the cavity. This treats the symptom, but not the cause. Without addressing why decay is occurring, new cavities tend to follow.
Minimally invasive dentistry takes a different view. Our aim is to understand and control the disease process first — so that wherever possible, drilling can be avoided altogether, and small areas of damage can be resolved without a conventional filling.
Before any treatment begins, we take time to understand the factors driving decay in your mouth. This involves a careful assessment that may include:
This evidence-based approach allows us to give you genuinely useful, personalised advice — not generic guidance. Understanding your individual decay risk means we can work with you to change the conditions that allow decay to develop in the first place.
Where decay has been caught early — before it has progressed to the point where a filling is unavoidable — we have a range of techniques that can halt and even reverse the process without removing any tooth structure.
Remineralisation and topical medications can harden early lesions by restoring lost minerals to the enamel. When decay is caught at the right stage, this approach can stabilise the tooth without any drilling.
Resin infiltration is a technique used for small to medium cavities that have not yet broken through the enamel surface. A low-viscosity resin is applied to the affected area, which penetrates and fills the porous, decayed zone within the enamel. No injection, no drill, no removal of healthy tooth structure. The result is a tooth that is stabilised and protected — often indistinguishable in appearance from a healthy tooth.
These techniques are not appropriate for every cavity. Where decay has progressed significantly, a conventional white filling or other restoration may still be the right option. We will always give you an honest assessment of what your teeth need.
Every time a tooth is drilled and filled, a small amount of healthy tooth structure is lost. Over time, fillings can need replacing, and with each replacement the cavity tends to become slightly larger. Teeth that have been heavily restored are also more susceptible to cracking, root canal problems, and ultimately, loss.
By intervening early — and by treating the underlying causes of decay — we aim to help you keep your own teeth, largely intact, for as long as possible. This is not just better dentistry in the short term; it is an investment in the long-term health and resilience of your smile.
This approach is particularly valuable for children and younger patients, whose teeth are still developing and for whom establishing good decay-control habits early can have a lasting impact. We take the same thorough, preventive approach with patients of all ages at our Golders Green practice.
Minimally invasive dentistry sits alongside our hygiene and preventive dentistry services at BDS Dental. Our experienced hygienists, Irina Volk (GDC 136789) and Aleksandra Taleb (GDC 175908), provide professional cleaning and personalised prevention advice — and can be seen directly without a dentist referral through our direct access service.
BDS Dental is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and all our clinicians are registered with the General Dental Council (GDC). Dr. Ian Davis (GDC 74993) and Dr. Ellie Bergin (GDC 76585) bring more than 50 years of combined clinical experience to the care of every patient.
It is suitable for most patients, though the specific techniques available depend on the extent of any decay present. Resin infiltration and remineralisation treatments are most effective when decay is caught early. This is one of the reasons regular check-ups are so important — the earlier we can identify a developing cavity, the more options we have for treating it conservatively.
Resin infiltration involves applying a very thin, flowable resin material to an early cavity. The resin penetrates the porous structure of the decayed enamel and, once set, reinforces it. There is no need for a local anaesthetic or a drill. The procedure is straightforward and comfortable, and results are typically immediate.
In some cases, yes. Minimally invasive dentistry cannot reverse advanced decay or repair teeth that have already broken down significantly. Where a conventional filling, inlay, or crown is clinically necessary, we will always tell you so honestly. Our goal is to use the most conservative treatment appropriate to your situation — not to avoid treatment where it is genuinely needed.
The most effective things you can do are to reduce the frequency of sugar intake, use a fluoride toothpaste, clean between your teeth daily, and attend regular check-ups and hygiene appointments. We will work with you to identify any specific factors contributing to decay in your case and give you targeted, practical advice rather than generic instructions.
Many dental practices still take a primarily restorative approach — treating cavities as they appear rather than investigating why they are occurring. At BDS Dental, we invest time in understanding the full picture of your oral health. Our patients are actively involved in their own care, and many find that with the right information and support, they are able to significantly reduce their rate of decay over time.
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