title: Update on nonsurgical, ultraconservative approaches to treat effectively non-cavitated caries lesions in permanent teeth.
abstract: Dental caries on tooth surfaces is still a problem in many industrialized countries. For many years, dentistry was influenced by a mechanical approach characterized by the use of high-speed rotary cutting instruments, and dentists predominantly used surgical methods to address caries. This included radical removal of diseased portions of the tooth, along with material-driven geometric extensions to areas that were assumed to be caries-resistant. This concept of extension for prevention was introduced by G. V. Black and influenced dentists for more than 120 years. Recently, a new paradigm of operative conservatism, sometimes referred to as "minimally invasive dentistry," has gained popularity. This paradigm is designed to promote maximum preservation of healthy dental structures over a lifetime. The aim of this review is to discuss the efficacy of current nonsurgical treatments for non-cavitated caries lesions in permanent teeth. Based on results obtained from clinical trials, this review evaluates treatments such as consumption of CPP-ACP added gums, resin infiltration and fissure sealing. Although in a few cases an invasive approach is needed to arrest caries progression, the non-surgical approach generally provides potential benefits that include conserving structure by delaying intervention or minimizing the operative procedure. All current non-invasive methods are effective in treating non-cavitated caries lesions. The adoption of non-invasive approaches in the management of these lesions can preserve dental tissues, thus increasing tooth longevity.
authors.affiliation: Foundation for Research Support of Rio Grande do Norte (FAPERN), Brazil.
authors.forename: Boniek Castillo Dutra
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Borges
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Souza Borges
authors.forename: Larissa Sgarbosa Napoleao
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: de Araujo
authors.forename: Claudia Tavares
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Alex Jose Souza
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.forename: Isauremi Vieira
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: de Assunçao Pinheiro