European Organisation for Caries Research and the European Federation of Conservative Dentistry Consensus Report on Clinical Recommendations for Caries Diagnosis: Paper III - Caries Diagnosis at the Individual Level.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present consensus paper was to provide recommendations for clinical practice on the individual etiological and modifying factors to be assessed in the individual diagnosis of caries, and the methods for their assessment, supporting personalized treatment decisions. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The executive councils of the European Organisation for Caries Research (ORCA) and the European Federation of Conservative Dentistry (EFCD) nominated ten experts each to join the expert panel. The steering committee formed three work groups which were asked to provide recommendations on (1) caries detection and diagnostic methods, (2) caries activity assessment, and (3) forming individualized caries diagnoses. The experts responsible for "individualised caries diagnosis" searched and evaluated the relevant literature, drafted this manuscript and made provisional consensus recommendations. These recommendations were discussed and refined during the structured process in the whole work group. Finally, the agreement for each recommendation was determined using an anonymous eDelphi survey. The threshold for approval of recommendations was determined at 70% agreement. RESULTS: Ten recommendations were approved and agreed by the whole expert panel, covering medical history, caries experience, plaque, diet, fluoride, and saliva. While the level of evidence was low, the level of agreement was typically very high, except for one recommendation on salivary flow measurement, where 70% agreed. CONCLUSION: It is recommended that all aspects of caries lesion progression and activity, recent caries experience, medical conditions and medications, plaque, diet, fluoride and saliva should be synthesized to arrive at an individual diagnosis. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The expert panel merged evidence from existing guidelines and scientific literature with practical considerations and provided recommendations for their use in daily dental practice.

Organization for Caries Research-European Federation of Conservative Dentistry Consensus Report on Clinical Recommendations for Caries Diagnosis Paper II: Caries Lesion Activity and Progression Assessment.

INTRODUCTION: This consensus paper provides recommendations for oral health professionals on why and how to assess caries activity and progression with special respect to the site of a lesion. METHODS: An expert panel was nominated by the executive councils of the European Organization for Caries Research (ORCA) and the European Federation of Conservative Dentistry (EFCD). The steering committee built three working groups that were asked to provide recommendations on (1) caries detection and diagnostic methods, (2) caries activity and progression assessment, and (3) obtain individualized caries diagnoses. The experts of work group 2 phrased and agreed on provisional general and specific recommendations on caries lesion activity and progression, based on a review of the current literature. These recommendations were then discussed and refined in a consensus workshop followed by an anonymous Delphi survey to determine the agreement on each recommendation. RESULTS: The expert panel agreed on general (n = 7) and specific recommendations (n = 6). The specific recommendations cover coronal caries on pits and fissures, smooth surfaces, proximal surfaces, as well as root caries and secondary caries/caries adjacent to restorations and sealants. 3/13 recommendations yielded perfect agreement. CONCLUSION: The most suitable method for lesion activity assessment is the visual-tactile method. No single clinical characteristic is indicative of lesion activity; instead, lesion activity assessment is based on assessing and weighing several clinical signs. The recall intervals for visual and radiographic examination need to be adjusted to the presence of active caries lesions and recent caries progression rates. Modifications should be based on individual patient characteristics.

ORCA-EFCD consensus report on clinical recommendation for caries diagnosis. Paper I: caries lesion detection and depth assessment.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present consensus paper was to provide recommendations for clinical practice considering the use of visual examination, dental radiography and adjunct methods for primary caries detection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The executive councils of the European Organisation for Caries Research (ORCA) and the European Federation of Conservative Dentistry (EFCD) nominated ten experts each to join the expert panel. The steering committee formed three work groups that were asked to provide recommendations on (1) caries detection and diagnostic methods, (2) caries activity assessment and (3) forming individualised caries diagnoses. The experts responsible for "caries detection and diagnostic methods" searched and evaluated the relevant literature, drafted this manuscript and made provisional consensus recommendations. These recommendations were discussed and refined during the structured process in the whole work group. Finally, the agreement for each recommendation was determined using an anonymous Delphi survey. RESULTS: Recommendations (N = 8) were approved and agreed upon by the whole expert panel: visual examination (N = 3), dental radiography (N = 3) and additional diagnostic methods (N = 2). While the quality of evidence was found to be heterogeneous, all recommendations were agreed upon by the expert panel. CONCLUSION: Visual examination is recommended as the first-choice method for the detection and assessment of caries lesions on accessible surfaces. Intraoral radiography, preferably bitewing, is recommended as an additional method. Adjunct, non-ionising radiation methods might also be useful in certain clinical situations. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The expert panel merged evidence from the scientific literature with practical considerations and provided recommendations for their use in daily dental practice.

Knowledge and opinions of French dental students related to caries risk assessment and dental sealants (preventive and therapeutic).

OBJECTIVES: A national questionnaire study was performed to document knowledge and opinions of French dental students (FDSs) about minimal intervention (MI) in dentistry especially caries risk assessment (CRA) and dental sealants (DSs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A questionnaire was administered to the fifth-year dental FDSs (n = 1370) from the 16 French dental schools. Descriptive and statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS: The response rate was 84.5%. A large majority of respondents (87.8%) linked MI with minimally invasive dentistry and 77.4% considered MI as a concept based on prevention. About 80% stated they use CRA in clinical practice, mostly without any specific form. If 80.4% of the respondents would base their treatment plans on CRA, only 55.1% would regularly plan preventive regimens according to individual risk level. However, while 96.6% declared they perform preventive DSs, only 44.3% considered therapeutic sealants as a routine treatment. Although 75.1% of FDSs stated that they had sufficient learning and training related to CRA, 55.9% thought that they need further education about preventive and therapeutic DSs. CONCLUSION: Although FDSs seem to be aware of the importance of CRA and preventive strategies, this study shows the need to harmonize the teaching in cariology according to the latest European recommendations. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A national questionnaire study showed variability towards knowledge and opinions of FDSs related to MI in cariology. This may impact care provisions in their future professional life showing the urgent need to harmonize the teaching of MI in cariology in France.

Restorative thresholds for primary and permanent molars in children: French dentist decisions.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, numerous surveys have investigated practices and knowledge about caries management in adults, but few are available for children. AIM: The present cross-sectional survey aimed to assess the restorative thresholds (RTs) in primary and permanent molars in children used by a population of dentists treating children and practicing in France. DESIGN: The study population consisted of French dentists treating children (Fr-DTCs) who were registered in the French Society of Pediatric Dentistry (n = 250). A specific questionnaire was developed. Descriptive and statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS: Response rate was 80.4% (n = 201). Considering that an appropriate RT is at the stage of a moderate lesion (occlusal: International Caries Detection and Assessment System 4; approximal: lesion involving the external third of dentine), more than 50% of respondents showed a tendency for iatrogenic treatment, except for occlusal carious lesions in primary molars. Inappropriate invasive strategies were more often reported for occlusal lesions in permanent than primary molars. Moreover, for both molar types, these inappropriate RTs were more often chosen for approximal than occlusal lesions. CONCLUSIONS: The present survey suggested that Fr-DTCs tend to overtreat in terms of caries management in both primary and permanent molars.

How to Intervene in the Caries Process in Older Adults: A Joint ORCA and EFCD Expert Delphi Consensus Statement.

AIM: To provide recommendations for dental clinicians for the management of dental caries in older adults with special emphasis on root caries lesions. METHODS: A consensus workshop followed by a Delphi consensus process were conducted with an expert panel nominated by ORCA, EFCD, and DGZ boards. Based on a systematic review of the literature, as well as non-systematic literature search, recommendations for clinicians were developed and consented in a two-stage Delphi process. RESULTS: Demographic and epidemiologic changes will significantly increase the need of management of older adults and root caries in the future. Ageing is associated with a decline of intrinsic capacities and an increased risk of general diseases. As oral and systemic health are linked, bidirectional consequences of diseases and interventions need to be considered. Caries prevention and treatment in older adults must respond to the patient's individual abilities for self-care and cooperation and often involves the support of caregivers. Systemic interventions may involve dietary counselling, oral hygiene instruction, the use of fluoridated toothpastes, and the stimulation of salivary flow. Local interventions to manage root lesions may comprise local biofilm control, application of highly fluoridated toothpastes or varnishes as well as antimicrobial agents. Restorative treatment is often compromised by the accessibility of such root caries lesions as well as the ability of the senior patient to cooperate. If optimum restorative treatment is impossible or inappropriate, long-term stabilization, e.g., by using glass-ionomer cements, and palliative treatments that aim to maintain oral function as long and as well as possible may be the treatment of choice for the individual.

How to Intervene in the Caries Process in Children: A Joint ORCA and EFCD Expert Delphi Consensus Statement.

This paper provides recommendations for dentists for the treatment of dental caries in children, with an emphasis on early childhood caries (ECC), primary teeth, and occlusal surfaces in permanent teeth. A consensus workshop followed by an e-Delphi consensus process was conducted with an expert panel nominated by the European Organization for Caries Research (ORCA) and European Federation of Conservative Dentistry (EFCD)/German Association of Conservative Dentistry (DGZ) boards. Based on 3 systematic reviews and a nonsystematic literature search, recommendations were developed. The caries decline has led to a more polarized disease distribution in children and adolescents along social gradients which should be taken into account when managing the caries process at all levels, such as the individual, the group, or a population. The control or reduction of caries activity is the basis for successful caries management. In children, caries management requires adequate daily oral hygiene and fluoride application via toothpaste, ensured by caregivers, and especially for ECC prevention an emphasis on sugar intake reduction is needed. These noninvasive interventions are also suitable to arrest or control initial or even cavitated dentine caries lesions in the absence of irreversible pulpitis. Fluoride varnish or silver diammine fluoride can be added as supplementary agents. In pits and fissures, composite resin materials can be used as preventive sealants and for defect-oriented minimally invasive restorations. In primary molars, preformed metal crowns are more successful than multisurface fillings, especially in caries-active patients. With persisting high caries activity, multiple lesions, and limited cooperation, caries control should consist of robust measures with high success rates, even including extraction in selected cases. This applies especially to treatments performed under general anesthesia.

How to intervene in the caries process in adults: proximal and secondary caries? An EFCD-ORCA-DGZ expert Delphi consensus statement.

OBJECTIVES: To provide consensus recommendations on how to intervene in the caries process in adults, specifically proximal and secondary carious lesions. METHODS: Based on two systematic reviews, a consensus conference and followed by an e-Delphi consensus process were held with EFCD/ORCA/DGZ delegates. RESULTS: Managing an individual's caries risk using non-invasive means (oral hygiene measures including flossing/interdental brushes, fluoride application) is recommended, as both proximal and secondary carious lesions may be prevented or their activity reduced. For proximal lesions, only cavitated lesions (confirmed by visual-tactile, or radiographically extending into the middle/inner dentine third) should be treated invasively/restoratively. Non-cavitated lesions may be successfully arrested using non-invasive measures in low-risk individuals or if radiographically confined to the enamel. In high-risk individuals or if radiographically extended into dentine, for these lesions, additional micro-invasive (lesion sealing and infiltration) treatment should be considered. For restoring proximal lesions, adhesive direct restorations allow minimally invasive, tooth-preserving preparations. Amalgams come with a lower risk of secondary lesions and may be preferable in more clinically complex scenarios, dependent on specific national guidelines. In structurally compromised (especially endodontically treated) teeth, indirect cuspal coverage restorations may be indicated. Detection methods for secondary lesions should be tailored according to the individual's caries risk. Avoiding false positive detection and over-treatment is a priority. Bitewing radiographs should be combined with visual-tactile assessment to confirm secondary caries detections. Review/refurbishing/resealing/repairing instead of replacing partially defective restorations should be considered for managing secondary caries, if possible. CONCLUSIONS: An individualized and lesion-specific approach is recommended for intervening in the caries process in adults. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Dental clinicians have an increasing number of interventions available for the management of dental caries. Many of them are grounded in the growing understanding of the disease. The best evidence, patients' expectations, clinicians' expertise, and the individual clinical scenario all need to be considered during the decision-making process.

Dentists' decisions for deep carious lesions management in primary teeth.

BACKGROUND: Questionnaire surveys have been undertaken worldwide to investigate practices and knowledge related to deep carious lesion (DCL) management in permanent teeth, and there is a lack of data in primary teeth. AIM: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was undertaken to describe the management strategies for DCL of vital primary teeth, focusing on the different caries removal techniques, among dentists practicing pediatric dentistry (DPPDs) in France. Their behavior was compared to members one registered to European Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (EAPD). DESIGN: A questionnaire was electronically administrated (2018-2019) to members of the Collège des Enseignants en Odontologie Pédiatrique (CEOP), the Société Française d'Odontologie Pédiatrique (SFOP), and the EADP. Descriptive and statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS: Response rate was, respectively, for CEOP, SFOP, and EAPD about 74%, 29%, and 15%. About half of the respondents (53%) would perform a complete caries removal into one step when 12% would indicate a stepwise technique: 68% of the DPPDs practicing in France would perform complete caries removal in one step when the preferred option in the other EAPD members was the selective excavation (44%) (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Complementary education of French dentists in the domain of caries management appears necessary regarding current recommendations.

Carious lesion activity assessment in clinical practice: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the manuscript is to systematically review the different techniques developed for activity assessment of coronal carious lesions (AACCL) in clinical settings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search of PubMed identified original articles in English reporting on the different concepts/tools for AACCL in clinical settings and, when available, data related to their in vivo/in situ validation in terms of sensitivity, specificity, inter- and intra-examiner reproducibilities, area under the receiving operating curve, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and relative risk of lesion progression. RESULTS: The present review included 25 articles. Four groups of techniques are available (1) systems based on combinations of visual and tactile criteria; devices based on (2) pH assessment, (3) fluorescence, or (4) bioluminescence. The most studied systems are those based on combinations of visual and tactile parameters when bioluminescence suffers from the lack of in vivo evaluation. Validation studies showed a wide disparity among protocols in terms of populations, dentitions, teeth surfaces, study design, the gold standard, and validation criteria. CONCLUSION: There is a need for definition and harmonization of standards for activity assessment-related concepts/tools, as well as further investigations for in vivo validation of newly developed tools. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Carious lesion activity is an important component to be taken into account when making decisions as to appropriate clinical caries management. The development and use of validated techniques which are easy to use in everyday dental practice are important.

The "Plan" phase of a Deming cycle: Measurement of quality and outcome of root canal treatments in a university hospital.

INTRODUCTION: In many countries, dental students are taught in private or university hospitals where they treat patients under the supervision of teachers. Assessing the quality of root canal treatments (RCT) would provide information about the quality of care patients receive when treated by students. METHODS: This study describes the six-step "Plan" phase of a Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle that identifies and analyses clinical practices in endodontics in a university dental hospital service. RESULTS: Step 3 reported that the proportion of RCTs of adequate quality reached 57.1% and this proportion was significantly decreased when specific indicators for treatment difficulties were present. The proportion of successful RCTs after 1 year was 65.6%, and its variation was influenced by the preoperative periapical status rather than the quality of RCTs. The consensual meeting in Step 6 proposed to introduce three new procedures for the further Do, Check and Act phases of the PDCA cycle. CONCLUSION: This study encourages systematic evaluation of RCTs and provides the first step of the methodology that can be reproduced in private and hospital practices where students are asked to treat patients.

Knowledge, opinions and practices of French general practitioners in the assessment of caries risk: results of a national survey.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to describe the knowledge, opinions and practices of French general dental practitioners with respect to caries risk assessment (CRA) through the use of a national questionnaire survey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A postal questionnaire survey was applied to a simple random sample of dentists (n = 2000) in France. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: The response rate was 34.7 %. Of the respondents, 38.4 % reported that CRA was not part of their routine practice. Among those who claimed to use CRA only 4.5 % did so using a specific evaluation form. Responses showed that there is great variation among respondents with respect to the importance given to different factors to be considered for the development of a treatment plan in adults. Moreover, 32.3 % of respondents reported no regular scheduling of preventive care based on the caries risk of their patients. Nearly 12 % of respondents admitted they did not know exactly what minimal intervention in caries management involved. The results also showed that socio-demographic characteristics of the practitioner influence the use of CRA and other practice patterns. CONCLUSIONS: CRA has not widely entered clinical practice in France. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study, the first of its nature in France, shows the need to develop the use of CRA in daily dental practice in France.

Management of pulps exposed during carious tissue removal in adults: a multi-national questionnaire-based survey.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare the management of pulps exposed during carious tissue removal by French, German, and Norwegian general dental practitioners (GDPs). We further aimed to assess possible dentist- and patient-related factors associated with these management decisions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A structured questionnaire was send via mail to a simple random sample of dentists. RESULTS: The analyzed sample consisted of 661 (33%) French GDPs, 622 (25%) German GDPs, and 199 (34%) Norwegian GDPs. No single management method gained uniform consensus in any of the three countries. However, the most preferred management option in all three countries was direct pulp capping (DPC) (68-93%) mainly performed with calcium hydroxide paste/slurry (CH). Alternatively, root canal treatment was performed (7-22%). The reasons that guided GDPs were the same in all three countries; "good results" and "ease of use, familiar with the technique." Having read scientific articles about cariology/operative dentistry in the last 5 years increased the odds for the preference of DPC instead of root canal treatment (OR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.3-3.2). CONCLUSIONS: Among GDPs in France, Germany, and Norway, there was no uniform management option for pulp exposures during carious tissue removal. DPC with CH was the most preferred management, even though the current evidence suggests DPC with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) to be more successful. The outcome expectations and the assumed ease of use were reasons for GDPs' choice. Moreover, knowledge on current evidence towards such management options influenced treatment decisions. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: GDPs are encouraged to adopt management options based on current scientific evidence.

Dentists' attitudes and behaviour regarding deep carious lesion management: a multi-national survey.

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed, using a questionnaire, to assess and compare behaviour, attitudes and beliefs of French, German and Norwegian dentists regarding deep carious lesion management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A mail survey was applied to simple random national samples of dentists. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: Sample size was 661 (response rate, 33 %) in France, 622 (25 %) in Germany and 199 (33 %) in Norway. Hardness was the criterion used most often for assessing carious tissue removal in all three countries (>95 %), with most dentists aiming for only hard dentine remaining at the pulpal wall (>66 %); dentine colour was not found relevant by most respondents. The majority of French and German practitioners (>66 %) would perform complete excavation even for deep lesions, while most Norwegian dentists (84 %) opted for stepwise excavation. Most dentists thought complete removal was required to avoid lesion progression and were uncertain if remaining sealed bacteria would harm the pulp. Treatment decisions were guided by prior experience and familiarity. For example, stepwise removal was performed less often by dentists who were male, French, German or those in the private sector. CONCLUSIONS: Less invasive strategies for managing deep lesions have not widely entered clinical practice in France and Germany. Underlying beliefs shape decision-making. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The present study is the first of its nature to analyse and compare deep carious lesion management between three European countries. It shows that there is an urgent need to practically educate dentists in less invasive strategies.

Detection of Occlusal Carious Lesion using the SoproLife® Camera: A Systematic Review.

AIM: The aim of this systematic review was to assess the in vivo scientific evidence regarding the ability of a recently developed light fluorescence device, SoproLife® (Sopro-Acteon group, La Ciotat, France) in detecting occlusal carious lesions. The PubMed database was searched for in vivo trials that evaluated the validity of the SoproLife® camera for the detection of occlusal carious lesions. Among the 11 articles originally identified with the keyword "Soprolife," only three articles were included. The three included surveys used the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS)-II criteria as gold standard for the assessment of SoproLife® compared or not to other detection devices (DIAGNOdent® and Spectra Caries Detection Aid®). Two of the included studies reported only on permanent teeth or both primary and permanent teeth. The SoproLife® validity values varied markedly among studies with a sensitivity ranging between 0.43 and 0.95 and a specificity between 0.55 and 1. Interobserver reproducibility with the SoproLife® was reported in two of the three studies (0.98 and 0.72) and none of the studies reported about intraobserver reproducibility. No clear-cut conclusion can be made based on the three included clinical studies; further in vivo investigations are needed to confirm the validity of the SoproLife® camera in terms of detection of occlusal carious lesions.

Changes in Occlusal Caries Lesion Management in France from 2002 to 2012: A Persistent Gap between Evidence and Clinical Practice.

A survey conducted in 2002 among French general dental practitioners (GPs) showed variations between treatment decisions and a tendency towards early restorative intervention for caries. The aims of the present questionnaire survey were to investigate, among a random sample of 2,000 French GPs, the management decisions for occlusal lesions in 2012 and to compare the results to those obtained in 2002. The response rate was 41.9%. The majority of the respondents (60.7%) would postpone their restorative decisions until the lesion was in the dentin, based on clinical and radiographic examinations. Almost 68% of the respondents suggested that the cavity preparation should be limited to the lesion (vs. a preparation extending to the occlusal fissure), and 81.6% chose composite as restorative material for the earliest lesion requiring restoration in a 20-year-old patient with his/her caries risk factors under control. Statistical analysis (χ(2) and logistic regression) showed that the management decisions were influenced by certain demographic characteristics (gender, clinical experience and participation in cariology courses). When comparing the 2002 and 2012 responses, it appears that even if French GPs still tend to intervene surgically for occlusal lesions, which could benefit from noninvasive care such as therapeutic sealants, the restorative threshold has been delayed to later stages of carious progression (p < 0.0001). Moreover, the 2012 respondents were less likely to open the fissure system than the 2002 respondents (p = 0.032), and less amalgam restorations would have been placed in 2012 (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, the results showed that the variability observed in 2002 toward caries management decisions was persisting in 2012.

Resin infiltration of non-cavitated caries lesions: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the in vivo scientific evidence of the ability of resin infiltration (RI) to arrest non-cavitated caries lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The PubMed database was searched for randomized controlled trials that evaluated the in vivo effect of RI versus placebo or other preventive treatment on the progression of caries lesions. The keywords used were 'resin infiltration, dental caries', 'resin infiltration, carious lesions', 'resin infiltration, caries lesions', 'caries infiltration' and 'Icon DMG' with the 'clinical trial' filter activated. Among the 14 articles originally identified with these keywords, only 4 (related to 3 different in vivo studies) were included for this review. RESULTS: All 4 articles reported on proximal caries lesions. One study had been conducted on 48 high-caries-risk children while the other 3 (n = 22, 22 and 39, respectively) concerned moderate- and low-caries-risk adolescents and adults. The quality of the studies was assessed to be high with respect to randomization, split-mouth design and blinding. All the included studies showed significant differences in caries progression between test and control/placebo groups, indicating that RI may inhibit the carious process. CONCLUSION: This systematic review revealed that RI appeared to be an effective method to arrest the progression of non-cavitated caries lesions. Additional, long-term studies are required.

Restorative treatment thresholds: factors influencing the treatment thresholds and modalities of general dentists in Kuwait.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the thresholds at which general dentists in Kuwait would restore approximal and occlusal carious lesions and examined the demographic characteristics of the dentists in relation to their decision making. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of a random sample of 185 general dentists practicing in the Ministry of Health of Kuwait. A survey questionnaire was administered. The questionnaire presented different stages and locations of carious lesions; the participants were asked to identify the stage at which a restoration is required under different conditions, the preparation technique, and their choice of restorative material. RESULTS: For approximal carious lesions, 74 (40%) of the participants reported that they would restoratively intervene when the carious lesion reached the outer third of the dentin. A total of 91 (49.2%) reported the use of traditional class II restorations. For occlusal carious lesions, 128 (69.2%) said they would intervene when lesions reached the middle third of the dentin. 146 (78.9%) said they would remove the carious tissue only in their preparation. For both approximal and occlusal lesions, the participants preferred resin composite as the material for restoration. CONCLUSIONS: The respondents tended to delay restorative intervention until dentinal penetration of the caries. Resin restorative materials were used in conservatively prepared cavities. Participants chose a conservative approach for occlusal lesions but still believed in a traditional approach when it concerned approximal lesions. Experience, university dental education, and participation in continuous education courses were most significantly related to restorative treatment.

Risk factors or indicators for dental caries and tooth wear and their relative importance in adults according to age.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the risk factors for dental caries (DC) and tooth wear (TW) and assess their importance according to age in random French adult patients with >1 partial coronal restoration. METHODS: The data stem from a prospective observational multicentre cross-sectional study and were collected through interviews and clinical examinations. The study involved 96 dentists from 76 hospital and private clinics and included 822 patients. The data analysed in three age groups (18-29, 30-59, and ≥ 60). Univariate logistic regressions were performed and predictions of DC or TW described using decision trees. RESULTS: The study confirmed the major influences of oral hygiene, acceptable sugary/acidic beverage consumption and regular dental visits in reducing DC and TW. Further, it exposed age-related risk factors for DC such being a "new patient" and having an "excessive sugary/acidic beverage consumption" in the youngest adults, or "irregular dental visits" in middle-aged adults and in the oldest. CONCLUSIONS: For appropriate preventive counselling, risk factor assessment should be extensive and age- and dental history-oriented because of unexpected age-related risk factors or risk factor combinations. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: These results are likely to make better-grounded new recommendations given to young adults since their first visits and throughout their dental clinical pathway.

Restorative treatment decisions of Croatian university teachers.

This study aimed to identify differences in diagnostic criteria and restorative treatment among Croatian university teachers. The questionnaire was distributed to 120 Croatian university teachers in Zagreb and Rijeka. Responses were collected from 59 (49.2%) university teachers. Treatment thresholds for hypothetical approximal and occlusal caries, as well as most favored types of restorative techniques and materials were assessed. The majority (34%) of the respondents would intervene for an approximal caries lesion at the enamel-dentin junction. The leading strategy for occlusal caries was postponing operative treatment until the caries lesion was in the outer third of dentin and removing caries tissue only. Composite resin was the predominant material of choice for restoration of approximal and occlusal caries (70% and 81% respectively). More than half (54%) of Croatian university teachers believed the radiographs underestimated the depth of the caries lesion compared with clinical finding. Findings of this study should be a guideline for Croatian university teachers for a more consistent and modern teaching on the subject of caries management.