A new ADA clinical practice guideline suggests conservative restorative approaches could avoid adverse events and further dental work when treating tooth decay in primary and permanent teeth. This is the first-known guideline on this topic.

The guideline, published in the July issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association, contains 16 recommendations regarding restorative treatments of moderate and advanced caries lesions in primary and permanent teeth that have not received endodontic treatment. Specifically, it encourages the application of conservative carious tissue removal to minimize the risk of pulp exposure or the need for endodontic treatment or crowns.

The new guideline also affirms the efficacy of the seven most common restorative materials for treating tooth decay and suggests specific materials depending on the extent of the decay.

Access this guideline by clicking here.