An ART field study in western Nepal.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Dental Materials Science
• Public Health Dentistry

Background:

• The Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) technique offers a minimally invasive approach to dental restoration.
• Glass ionomer cements are widely used in ART due to their cariostatic properties and ease of use.
• Evaluating the long-term effectiveness of different glass ionomer types in pediatric ART is crucial for clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the two-year effectiveness of three distinct glass ionomer restorative materials.
• To compare the outcomes of ART restorations placed by dentists versus primary health care workers in children.
• To identify the most successful glass ionomer type for ART in pediatric populations.

Main Methods:

• A non-randomized field study was conducted in rural Nepal.
• Three glass ionomer cements (Fuji IX, Dentsply Baseline, S.S. White) were used for restorations in primary and permanent teeth.
• An independent, blinded evaluator assessed restoration survival after two years.

Main Results:

• Overall, 75% of the 163 ART restorations survived after two years.
• Single-surface permanent molar restorations with Fuji IX demonstrated 100% survival.
• No significant difference was found in restoration survival rates between dentists and primary health care workers.

Conclusions:

• The ART technique, utilizing improved glass ionomer cements, is highly effective for single-surface permanent molar restorations in children.
• Both dentists and primary health care workers can achieve satisfactory outcomes with the ART technique.
• Specific glass ionomer formulations, like Fuji IX, show excellent durability in ART applications for pediatric permanent molars.