Minimally invasive selective caries removal: a clinical guide

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Dental Materials Science
• Cariology

Background:

• Modern dental management emphasizes conservative, minimally invasive techniques for carious lesions.
• Advances in adhesive restorative materials support biologically-based treatment approaches.
• Selective caries excavation aims to preserve tooth structure and pulp vitality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a clinical technique guide for managing moderate-to-deep carious lesions in permanent teeth.
• To highlight the principles of selective caries removal based on current literature.
• To address the need for evidence-based guidance in minimally invasive dentistry.

Main Methods:

• Review of current minimally invasive dental literature on caries management.
• Focus on selective caries excavation techniques for moderate-to-deep lesions.
• Emphasis on preserving dentine-pulp complex integrity.

Main Results:

• Selective caries removal prevents excessive tooth structure removal.
• The technique supports maintaining pulp vitality and long-term tooth prognosis.
• Literature demonstrates prognostic success with selective excavation.

Conclusions:

• Selective caries removal represents a biologically-based approach to managing dental caries.
• Further high-quality evidence is required to overcome clinical resistance to this technique.
• This guide aims to support the application of selective caries removal in practice.