What treatment can arrest brown cavitations that do not require restorations?

• A. Systemic antibiotics
• B. Topical fluoride
• C. Sealants
• D. Laser therapy

Answer: (B)

Fluoride applied topically can halt the progression of early carious lesions by promoting remineralization and forming fluorapatite, which is more resistant to acid attack. When a brown cavitation is present but not yet in need of restoration, a high-concentration fluoride treatment (like varnish or gel) helps replenish minerals at the lesion surface and can stop further demineralization, effectively arresting the decay. The other options don’t act to remineralize and halt caries progression: systemic antibiotics don’t impact the caries process itself, sealants prevent new caries but don’t reverse an existing cavitation, and laser therapy isn’t a standard, routinely used method to arrest cavitated lesions without restoration.