Lesion Stabilization and Tooth Preservation (Lstop) Reflection on Pulp-Therapy-Lstr when Resources are Undersupplied: A Technical Note

Abstract

The World Health Organization Global Oral Health 2022 report estimated oral disease to be affecting around 3.5 billion people worldwide, where untreated dental caries represents 71% of this estimate. If left untreated, the inevitable pulpal sequalae occur. At our Pediatric dental department, many children attend with extensive carious teeth. This technical note aims to reflect on this realistic demand of pulp therapy needs, for children with extensive carious 2nd primary molars and no 1st permanent molars erupted yet and introduce an innovative modified pulp therapy technique: Lesion Stabilization and Tooth Preservation (LSToP) that aims to stabilize and preserve those teeth, as a natural space maintainer. This technique, if proven beneficial, would add to the dental literature and clinicians another option to preserve teeth as a natural space maintainer, and delay/avoid premature extractions, particularly when supply and resources (dental materials/laboratory and pharmacy) are insufficient.