Victims of the drill

Area of Science:

• Dental Science
• Preventive Dentistry

Background:

• Traditional restorative dentistry has not achieved optimal dental health outcomes.
• A significant patient population has heavily restored dentitions due to past treatment approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the failure of restorative-centric dental practices.
• To advocate for the urgent implementation of preventive dentistry philosophies.

Main Methods:

• Critical analysis of current dental practice paradigms.
• Review of the long-term consequences of the 'drill and fill' approach.

Main Results:

• Restorative dentistry alone is insufficient for delivering lasting dental health.
• Patients with extensive restorations are particularly vulnerable to treatment failures.

Conclusions:

• A fundamental shift towards preventive strategies is essential in general dental practice.
• Minimizing further restorative interventions is crucial for patient well-being.