Clinical interventions for caries management through minimal intervention procedures in young children: an updated evidence-based review

Abstract

This review aimed to summarize the preventive, non-restorative and restorative minimal intervention dentistry (MID) interventions for managing dental caries during the primary dentition stage, after selecting the highest quality evidence. A comprehensive literature search for relevant studies was performed in PubMed (MEDLINE), Embase, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar, published between 2007 and 2022. Only clinical randomized controlled trials, clinical guidelines with literature review, systematic reviews and meta-analyses conducted in the primary dentition were included. One hundred fifty-three MID-associated references were found, and 63 of them were considered for the present review. Of these, 24 were clinical randomized controlled trials, 21 were systematic reviews, 3 umbrella reviews and 11 practice guidelines with a literature review. The retrieved evidence was divided into (and discussed) three general caries management strategies: (i) carious lesion diagnosis and individual risk assessment; (ii) preventive measurements and non-cavitated lesions management; and (iii) cavitated lesions management. MID is an attractive alternative management that promotes prevention rather than intervention to achieve a long-lasting oral health in young children through easy and cost-benefit preventive, non-invasive, minimally invasive or conservative invasive restorative measures. This philosophy of management is suitable for treating young children, considered friendlier and less anxiety-provoking than traditional methods.