A Liquid That Stops Cavities Without the Drill
Read about a simple dental treatment and discuss if it could replace drilling.
Written for any B1 learner. Adapt it to make it about your student: their level, their work, their goals.
Introduction
Going to the dentist can make many people nervous, especially when they hear the sound of the drill. This lesson is about a new way to treat cavities that does not need drilling. Before you read, think about this question: How do you feel about visiting the dentist?
Key Vocabulary
6 wordsLearn these words before reading the article. They will help you understand the text better.
decay
the process of something being slowly damaged or destroyed
Example Sentences
injection
the act of putting a liquid medicine into the body with a needle
Example Sentences
arrest
to stop a process from continuing
Example Sentences
bacteria
very small living things that can cause disease or help living things
Example Sentences
cosmetic
related to appearance rather than health or function
Example Sentences
widely
by many people or in many places
Example Sentences
Article
Read the article carefully. Take your time to understand the main ideas.
Listen to the article. The sentence being read is highlighted; click any word to hear it.
A new study shows that a simple liquid can stop cavities in young children. The treatment is called silver diamine fluoride, or SDF. It is painted onto the tooth in just a few seconds. There is no need for drilling, injections, or medicine to make the child sleep.
The study included 830 children who were younger than six years old. They came from dental clinics, medical offices, and early education programs in three American states. The researchers wanted to see if the liquid could stop tooth decay from getting worse.
The results were positive. The liquid stopped decay in more than half of the affected baby teeth. The children received the treatment every six months. Dentists call this arresting tooth decay. It means the damaged area stops getting worse. The treatment does not replace the part of the tooth that was lost. Instead, it helps prevent more damage.
Silver diamine fluoride works because of two ingredients. Silver helps fight the bacteria that cause cavities. Fluoride helps make the tooth stronger and protects it from more damage. The lead researcher said the treatment is safe and works well, even in children as young as one year old.
Tooth decay is the most common long-term health problem among children in the United States. More than 40 percent of American children have it. If cavities are not treated, they can cause pain, infections, problems with eating and sleeping, and missed days at school.
Traditional dental treatment can be hard for young children. Some are too small to sit still. Others feel very afraid. SDF is a good option because it is fast and easy to apply.
There is one important disadvantage. The liquid turns the decayed part of the tooth dark. This dark color is permanent. It is mostly a cosmetic problem, but it may affect a family's choice.
Silver diamine fluoride is not new. Dentists have used it in many countries for decades. In the United States, it was approved for tooth sensitivity in 2014. Dentists have also used it for cavities, but this use was not officially approved. The new study provides strong evidence from American patients. This could help the treatment become more widely available.
Comprehension Questions
Answer these questions to check your understanding of the article.
- 1What is the name of the liquid treatment in the article?
- 2How long does it take to apply the liquid to a tooth?
- 3How many children took part in the study?
- 4What are the two ingredients that make the treatment work?
- 5What is the main disadvantage of the treatment?
- 6When was silver diamine fluoride approved for tooth sensitivity in the United States?
Further Discussion
Discuss these questions about the topic and your personal experiences.
- 1What do you do to take care of your teeth every day?
- 2How common are cavities among children in your country?
- 3Would you choose a treatment that turns your tooth dark if it meant no drilling? Why or why not?
- 4Why do you think some people avoid going to the dentist?
- 5What dental treatments are common in your town or city?
- 6Do you think schools should offer dental check-ups for children? Why or why not?
Wrap-up & Reflection
In this lesson, you read about a liquid treatment that can stop cavities without drilling. You also learned useful words like cavity, decay, and chronic. Think about one new word from the vocabulary list and write a short sentence about your own health or daily habits using that word.
Make it about your student
Same story, rewritten at your student's level, with discussion questions about their job, goals and weak spots. The vocabulary stays from the news, so they learn words outside their usual topics.
Sources
LinguaFlow wrote this article for language learners from facts reported by the sources below. Read them for the full story.