Cavity Prevention That Finds Out Why
Tired of hearing about a new cavity at every check-up? Cavity prevention in Seattle at SMILES ON 35th starts by finding why decay keeps happening. Dr. Rubecca Shahid then treats the cause, and rebuilds early cavities without drilling when they're caught in time.
You brush, you floss, and still get cavities
Tooth decay has causes, and they can be measured and changed.
It's frustrating to do everything you've been told and still leave with another filling on the schedule. Each filling also removes a little more natural tooth, which makes the next repair more likely, and the cycle can feel endless.
Cavities aren't only about brushing. The bacteria in your mouth, how often you snack or sip, dry mouth and the quality of your saliva all play a part. We find which of these is at work for you, change what can be changed, and catch early cavities while they can still be rebuilt without a drill. The goal is simple: fewer cavities, and more of your own tooth kept for life.
See what your first visit includes
Fewer cavities, more of your own tooth
Preventing a cavity keeps more natural tooth than any filling can. Here's what our approach to cavity prevention looks like for you.
When the cause is under control, decay slows down. Your plan targets the bacteria, habits and dry mouth behind your cavities, not just the holes they leave, so check-ups bring fewer surprises.
A cavity caught early can often be rebuilt with Curodont, a gel that helps the tooth repair its own enamel. No drill, no numbing and no healthy tooth removed.
Every cavity you avoid is a filling you don't need, and every filling avoided keeps a tooth stronger for the decades ahead. When a filling is needed, it's a biomimetic filling that keeps as much healthy tooth as possible.
You leave knowing exactly what to use and why, from toothpaste to rinse, so your daily routine supports your treatment between visits instead of working against it. Small, practical changes make the biggest difference.
Frequent cavities aren't a personal failing. We explain the cause, help you change it, and celebrate the progress you make.
Our cavity prevention plan
Cavity prevention is care that stops decay from starting, or catches it early enough to reverse. Four tools make up our plan, each one matched to your results.
Saliva testing
A simple saliva test shows which cavity-causing bacteria are in your mouth and how active they are, so we know what we're treating.
Rebuild without drilling
Curodont helps rebuild an early cavity's enamel, a process called remineralization, with no drill and no numbing.
Fluoride
Professional fluoride strengthens enamel and helps early weak spots harden again, adding protection between visits.
Home care that fits
CariFree take-home products and practical diet and hygiene coaching keep the balance in your favor between visits, without a lecture.
Who cavity prevention helps
It's for adults and children who get cavities often, people with dry mouth from medications or health conditions, and anyone with an early cavity who would rather avoid a drill.
Cavity prevention gives you a clear, practical way to break the cycle of new fillings. You'll know what's driving your cavities, what to change, and how we'll protect your teeth from here.
Book your comprehensive exam
From first exam to fewer cavities
Exam and saliva test
We examine your teeth, take digital X-rays when needed, and test your saliva to see what's driving decay.
A plan for the causes
We explain what's behind your cavities and build a conservative treatment plan around it, step by step.
Treat early cavities
Early cavities are rebuilt without drilling; deeper ones get a biomimetic filling that keeps healthy tooth.
Follow up
Check-ups are spaced by your risk, and a retest shows whether the balance in your mouth has shifted.
A gentle dentist who champions your lifelong health
Dr. Rubecca Shahid owns SMILES ON 35th in Wedgwood and leads your care herself, gently and with time to listen. Her own health struggles, then her mother's diagnosis, left her asking what the point of all our hard work is without the health to enjoy it. Longevity dentistry is her answer: care that protects your mouth and your health, so you can enjoy the life you're building.
Her care is conservative: she saves natural tooth wherever she can, chooses the least invasive option that will last, and recommends only treatment that truly helps you. When a tooth needs more, she shows you why. She is empathetic and thorough, with clear choices and no pressure.
She champions your long-term health and has trained to deliver on it. A Kois Center graduate, one of about 1,200 dentists worldwide, she completes nearly eight times the continuing education Washington requires every year. Her training spans prevention, function and sleep, restoration and smile design, so one dentist who knows you can plan each stage, close to home.
- Advanced training in diagnosis, treatment planning and bite stabilization from the Kois Center
- Biomimetic Dentistry Practitioner with mastership from the Alleman Center
- Member of American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine
- Member of American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
I came to longevity dentistry through my own health journey, wanting to understand why problems start and how to prevent them. What I needed then is what I want for you now: more good years, a smile you feel good about, and a dentist who listens.
Prevention that's personal
Generic advice hasn't stopped your cavities. These are the reasons our approach is different.
Trained in risk-based prevention
As a Kois Center graduate, Dr. Shahid assesses each patient's cavity risk and sets care and check-ups to match.
Saliva testing in our office
Your test is part of your visit, so your plan is built from your own results from the start.
A no-drill option
Curodont gives early cavities a chance to rebuild before any drilling is considered.
No judgment
Cavities aren't a character flaw. We explain the cause and help you change it, with no lecture and no pressure.
Hear it from our patients
Before you book, it helps to hear from people who have been in the chair. Read what patients say about their visits and treatment at SMILES ON 35th.
Read more reviewson Google (opens in a new tab)Lovely facility, beautiful and professional! Dr. Shahid and her team have been supporting my family's dental health for years. The team was especially supportive of my kids, who had some fears about dentists.
Cavity prevention questions
Recurring cavities usually come from a mix of causes: the bacteria in your mouth, how often you eat or sip sugary drinks, dry mouth and the quality of your saliva. A saliva test and exam show which ones apply to you.
Often, yes. If decay hasn't broken through the enamel, Curodont and fluoride can help rebuild the tooth without a drill. Your exam shows whether a cavity is early enough.
Curodont is a gel applied to an early cavity that helps the tooth rebuild its own enamel. It's painless, needs no numbing, and keeps all of your natural tooth.
Treat the cause, not just the cavity. That means knowing which bacteria are at work, adjusting snacking and drinks where it helps, using the right home-care products, and keeping check-ups on a schedule set by your risk.
Tooth decay happens when bacteria in your mouth turn sugars into acid that weakens enamel. Frequent snacking, sugary drinks, dry mouth and certain bacteria all raise the risk, which is why we test for them and address what's driving your decay.
Reviewed by Dr. Rubecca Shahid Updated
More ways to protect your teeth
Want to see what a saliva test shows, how we repair a cavity that needs filling, or how we care for the whole family? Start here.
