Minimal intervention dentistry for treating primary teeth: a survey study among members of the Israeli Society of Paediatric Dentistry

Purpose: To assess the attitudes of dentists in Israel to minimal intervention on primary teeth. Methods: For this cross-sectional study, data were accessed from questionnaires that were completed anonymously by members of the Israeli Society of Paediatric Dentistry. For four clinical scenarios, the respondents were asked to describe the stage at which they would intervene, the type of preparation they would utilize, and the restorative materials they would use. The scenarios included proximal and occlusal caries in the primary molar and buccal and proximal caries in the primary maxillary incisor. Results: Forty-six dentists completed the questionnaire. Forty-one (89%) cited that they would intervene in stages 3 and 4 (of 6) of proximal caries in the primary molar; 34 of these stated that the cavity preparation would be of the proximal box type. For occlusal caries, 37 (80%) stated they would intervene in stages 2 and 3 (of 5); 31 of these would only remove the carious lesion. Thirty-three (72%) of the respondents stated they would intervene in stage 3 (of 4) of buccal caries; 31 (67%) stated they would intervene in stage 2 (of 4) of proximal caries in the primary maxillary incisor. Conclusion: The study reveals that specialists and non-specialists dentists in Israel use minimally invasive dentistry to treat children, either by intervening at a later stage of tooth decay or by employing conservative techniques to restore teeth. This aligns with the philosophy of minimal intervention.