A Review of Minimally Invasive Procedures in Managing Dental Caries in Children

Interestingly, dentists who treat dental caries in children are increasingly understanding that cutting tooth structure with a handpiece is not always an imperative. Only 5% of all procedures performed on children are restorations requiring the use of a handpiece. This course will review several approaches to managing caries in children that do not require the use of a handpiece including: fluoride varnish, silver diamine fluoride, Hall crowns, resin infiltration, and fissure sealants. Additionally, challenges associated with case selection and treatment plan development will be discussed. Subsequent to completing the course, the participant should be equipped to manage caries in children in a manner that minimizes the removal of tooth structure by utilizing a dental handpiece.

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Discuss the use of fluoride varnish in managing non-cavitated and cavitated lesions in children
• Recognize the appropriateness and technique of using silver diamine fluoride to stabilize carious lesions in pre-cooperative children
• Acknowledge the potential role of the Hall crown technique in managing caries in children
• Employ resin infiltration to treat incipient proximal lesions in both the primary and permanent dentition
• Distinguish between the use of sealants as a primary preventive agent versus as an early therapeutic agent in managing non-cavitated enamel lesions
• Discuss barriers to the implementation of biologically conservative techniques in managing early stage carious lesions.

Dr. Mathu-Muju graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Manitoba in 1993. Following graduation, she practiced as a general dentist for the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch, Manitoba Region and travelled to Northern health centres and school-based dental clinics. Caring for children in remote communities was motivation to further her education in dentistry for children at the University of North Carolina, where she earned a Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from the School of Dentistry and a Master’s degree in Public Health from the School of Public Health in 2006.

Dr. Mathu-Muju is a Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada. She is an active member of a number of professional organizations including the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the Canadian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the International Association of Dental Research.   Her publications appear in a variety of peer-reviewed journals. She also serves as a section editor and editorial board member for Pediatric Dentistry as well as a peer reviewer and editorial board member for the Journal of Dentistry for Children.