title: Best clinical practice guidance for management of early caries lesions in children and young adults: an EAPD policy document.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD) encourages prevention and arrest of active dental caries. Therefore, the present guidance provides evidence- and clinically-based recommendations for detecting and diagnosing early/non-cavitated caries lesions, risk assessment and disease management.
  
  
  METHODS
  A search of different databases was conducted using all terms related to the subject. Relevant papers were identified after a review of their titles, abstracts or full texts. Three workshops were held during the corresponding EAPD interim seminar in Brussels in 2015. Several statements were agreed upon and, furthermore, gaps in our knowledge were identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following the systematic reviews and outcomes of the seminars, it was concluded that visual and radiographic caries detection should be utilised as a basic diagnostic approach to locate, assess and monitor non-cavitated caries lesions in primary and permanent teeth. As another important evaluation step, a caries risk assessment should be performed at a child's first dental visit, and reassessments should be performed on a regular basis. It is widely accepted that non-cavitated caries lesions can be managed non-invasively in the majority of cases. The spectrum of measures includes a low cariogenicity tooth-friendly diet, daily and appropriate management of the biofilm, home and within the dental office/surgery usage of fluorides as well as sealing techniques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The detection and management of non-cavitated caries is an essential aspect of preventive dentistry. Therefore, the EAPD encourages oral health care providers and caregivers to implement preventive practices that can arrest early caries and improve individual and public dental health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, School of Dentistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Poliklinik für Zahnerhaltung und Parodontologie, Goethestraße70, 80336, Munich, Germany. jkuehn@dent.med.uni-muenchen.de.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kühnisch
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontology, Cariology and Endodontics, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Ekstrand
authors.affiliation: The Dental Health Unit School of Dentistry, The University of Manchester, Williams House, Manchester Science Park, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pretty
authors.affiliation: Department of Odontology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Twetman
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Loveren
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Dental School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gizani
authors.affiliation: Specialist Private Practice, Paediatric Dentistry, Nicosia, Cyprus.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spyridonos Loizidou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003729:Dental Care; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D019229:Dentition, Permanent; D006801:Humans; D010377:Pediatric Dentistry; D011313:Preventive Dentistry; D018570:Risk Assessment
keywords: Caries; Caries management; Caries risk; Caries treatment; Detection; Diagnosis; Diagnostic methods; Prevention; Risk assessment