Atraumatic restorative treatment as a minimum invasive approach in pediatric dentistry - A literature review

Abstract

Introduction: Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) is a minimally invasive approach of dental caries lesions that is indicated in primary and permanent dentition. Objectives: To investigate based on a review of the scientific literature, the use of ART as a minimally invasive treatment approach in Pediatric Dentistry. Methodology: A literature review was conducted to verify the evidence regarding Atraumatic restorative treatment as a minimally invasive treatment in pediatric dental patients. Searches were performed in the following electronic health databases: Pubmed, Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO), and Latin American and Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences (LILACS), using the following search terms: minimally invasive treatment and Atraumatic restorative treatment and dental caries. The inclusion criteria for the studies were epidemiological (cross-sectional, case-control, cohort, clinical trials) or qualitative studies that evaluated the use of ART in children's dental care; papers published in English, Portuguese or Spanish; and the publication date of the studies was limited to the last five years (2017 to 2022). Data were presented through a description of the included studies after a complete reading. Results: Twenty-three studies were identified and after the inclusion criteria were applied, eight studies were included in the full analysis. From the data analysis, it was observed that ART is a great alternative for the caries control and treatment of the lesions, contributing to the reduction of the patient's anxiety levels in relation to conventional restorative dental treatment, as it minimizes the fear of children regarding dental caries treatment. ART is a viable alternative to conventional treatments that are associated with local anesthetics, drills, and composite resin. In addition, the materials used in ART showed good results when compared to conventional restorative techniques in relation to the survival of the restoration. Conclusion: The use of the ART technique is an effective option for minimally invasive treatment for children, mainly young children, and especially nowadays due to the minimization of aerosols production for dental treatments due to virus transmission during pandemic period. In addition, ART is a comfortable and easy technique for both patient and dental health professional.