Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026
Detection and Removal of Tooth-Colored Composite Resin Using the Fluorescence-Aided Identification Technique
Published on: July 27, 2022
Dental Practitioners' Thresholds for Restorative Intervention in Carious Lesions: A Survey-Based Systematic Review
Heather J Lundbeck1, Vinay Pitchika2, Paul Wilson3
1School of Dentistry, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK, lundbeckh@cardiff.ac.uk.
None:
Introduction: Despite evidence supporting the clinical and cost-effectiveness of minimally invasive dentistry (MID), its adoption by the dental profession has been slow. A systematic review in 2016 found the majority of dentists intervene invasively earlier than necessary. The aim was to update this review of the assessment of dental practitioners' thresholds for providing restorative treatment for carious lesions given changes in evidence, teaching, and guidelines since 2016. The primary outcome was dental practitioners' restorative thresholds (the extent of the lesion when they would decide to intervene restoratively). Secondary outcomes were changes over time, caries risk, regional differences, and primary/permanent dentition.
Methods:
This updated review replicated the methodology for the initial review, following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines (PROSPERO; CRD42023431906). Embase, MEDLINE (via PubMed), and Web of Science databases were searched (2016-2023) for observational studies reporting on dental clinicians' thresholds for restorative interventions in adults and children without language, time, or quality restrictions. Screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment (Modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale) were carried out independently and in duplicate. Meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model. No funding sought.
Results:
Overall, 47 publications (30 from original publication and 17 from updated search) met the inclusion criteria and 65 datasets were included in the meta-analyses: 19 for occlusal lesions (16 pre-2016 and 3 post-2016; n = 11,946) and 46 for proximal lesions (38 pre-2016 and 8 post 2016; n = 20,428). The meta-analyses found that for occlusal lesions confined to enamel, there were fewer practitioners intervening invasively: 5% (95% confidence interval [CI]; 1-20%) post-2016, compared with 15% (95% CI; 9-23%) pre-2016. The opposite was found for proximal lesions with increased intervention levels, 27% (95% CI; 18-40%) for lesions confined to enamel post-2016, compared with 19% (95% CI; 12-29%) pre-2016, and for lesions extending up to the enamel-dentine junction 61% (95% CI; 36-81%) post-2016, compared with 39% (95% CI; 29-51%) pre-2016. There was variance between regions but too few studies to draw conclusions on individual regions.
Conclusion:
There was a suggestion of less invasive treatment of occlusal lesions over time; however, this was not evident for proximal lesions.
.More Related Videos
07:42Quasistatic Mechanical Testing for Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing Occlusal Veneers Cemented to Milled Dentin Analog Material
Published on: December 20, 2024
03:37Evaluating the Effects of Different Polishing Methods on Color Stability of Dental Restorations in Pediatric Dentistry
Published on: June 6, 2025
Related Concept Videos
01:15Teeth
In the bud stage, the tooth germ (an aggregation of cells) starts to form in the developing jawbone. During the cap stage, the tooth germ differentiates into enamel organ, dental papilla, and dental sac, which will later develop into the tooth's enamel, dentin...
01:21Tooth Anatomy
The Crown, Neck, and Root
The visible part of the tooth is referred to as the crown. It's covered by enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. The crown is uniquely shaped for each type of tooth, allowing for different functions such as cutting, tearing, or...