MINIMALLY INVASIVE AND PREVENTIVE APPROACHES IN CONTEMPORARY DENTAL CARIES MANAGEMENT

Modern dental caries management has shifted from traditional restorative paradigms toward biologically driven, minimally invasive, and preventive approaches.Preventive interventions, including fluoride therapy, pit and fissure sealants, and dietary and oral hygiene guidance, form the cornerstone of contemporary care. Microinvasive strategies, such as resin infiltration and silver diamine fluoride application, allow early lesion arrest while preserving healthy tooth structure. Minimally invasive restorative procedures, including atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) and the Hall Technique, support long-term tooth survival and pulp vitality.This review synthesizes current clinical evidence,explores challenges in adoption, and highlights future directions in minimally invasive caries management, emphasizing patient-centered care and long-term outcomes.