ABSTRACT
In recent years, a reduction has been observed in the prevalence of dental caries in the global population. However, caries is still considered a public health problem. Currently, total removal of decayed tissue has been questioned and replaced by less invasive therapeutic approaches, which offer the possibility of incomplete removal of decayed tissue in one or two clinical sessions. Other techniques aim at sealing the carious lesion or use prefabricated metal crowns on the cavitated tooth without removal of the decayed tissue, preventing direct contact of the substrates with the carious lesion. Recently, ultra-conservative treatment has gained scientific prominence, and is able to control carious lesions through the disorganization of dental biofilm via supervised brushing. Each therapeutic approach has its advantages and limitations, and it is the responsibility of dental professionals to plan their patients' treatments according to their individual needs, allowing for better functional, aesthetic and psychological conditions for patients by preserving primary teeth until their physiological exfoliation.
Indexing terms:
Dental caries; Dentin; Tooth deciduous.