The atraumatic restorative treatment approach: an "atraumatic" alternative

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Minimally Invasive Procedures
• Patient Psychology

Background:

• Fear and anxiety are common in dental patients and can significantly impact behavior during treatment.
• The Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) presents a potential alternative for managing patients with special needs or those experiencing dental fear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) technique as a method to decrease pain and fear in dental patients.
• To evaluate ART's efficacy in improving patient comfort and cooperation during dental procedures.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted using MEDLINE for "atraumatic restorative treatment" published within the last 10 years.
• Studies were selected if they included terms related to psychological aspects, discomfort, fear, anxiety, or pain.

Main Results:

• Out of 120 initially identified references, only 17 met the inclusion criteria for the review.
• The reviewed literature consistently indicated that ART leads to reduced patient discomfort.

Conclusions:

• The Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) is associated with decreased patient discomfort, anxiety, and fear during dental care.
• ART minimizes reported pain and is a favorable option for patients with significant dental anxiety or behavioral challenges, improving treatment feasibility.