title: Clinical guidelines for treating caries in adults following a minimal intervention policy--evidence and consensus based report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In 2002, FDI (World Dental Federation) published a policy advocating that caries be treated by minimal intervention (MI). This MI policy has been accepted worldwide and is taught in universities. But acceptance in general dental practice has been slower, especially in Japan where healthcare payment and practice favour drilling and filling. To help disseminate this MI policy into general practice, the Japanese Society of Conservative Dentistry developed an evidence-based clinical guideline for restoring carious permanent teeth in adult patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  The guideline was developed by a committee of nine university clinicians and a librarian. The committee selected the most frequent clinical questions in treating caries and used electronic databases to search and assess the best scientific evidence for each. Members then added their clinical experience and discussed to reach consensus on each question on treating caries with MI policy. Graded recommendations and guidance were made for each clinical question. The provisional guideline was strengthened after review and discussion with university researchers and general practitioners.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The guideline addresses the 16 most frequent clinical questions in treating adult caries, including restorative methods and how to tackle root caries. Recommendations for treatment using MI policy were developed using the best scientific evidence and consensus of experienced clinicians.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The guideline offers a practical expert view of treating caries with the MI policy that incorporates the best scientific evidence, the latest techniques, the most preferable materials and the general consensus of expert clinicians.
authors.affiliation: The Japanese Society of Conservative Dentistry, 1-43-9, Komagome, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0003, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Momoi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujitani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Imazato
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nikaido
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Unemori
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yamaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D032921:Consensus; D016206:Databases, Bibliographic; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation / Q000379:methods; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000379:methods*; D055094:Evidence-Based Dentistry; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D017213:Root Caries / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D003722:Dental Alloys; D003764:Dental Materials; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements