Restorative Thresholds for Carious Lesions

Over the past decades, our understanding of dental caries as a dynamic, biofilm-mediated disease has evolved substantially, alongside significant advances in biomaterials and minimally invasive approaches to care. Robust evidence now demonstrates that many early and non-cavitated lesions can be effectively arrested through non-operative management. Despite this, variability in clinical decision-making persists, with a continued tendency toward premature restorative intervention. This course will provide a practical, evidence-based framework to help clinicians determine when restorative treatment is indicated for caries lesions. It will also integrate current evidence on non-operative management strategies, emphasizing their critical role in controlling disease progression.

Participants will learn:

• Contemporary understanding of dental caries as a dynamic, biofilm-mediated disease and its implications for clinical decision-making
• Clinical and radiographic thresholds that indicate when non-operative management is appropriate versus when restorative intervention may be required
• How to integrate minimally invasive dentistry principles into daily practice to improve long-term patient outcomes and reduce the restorative cycle

Presenters:

Marcelle Nascimento DDS, MS, PhD

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Associate Professor and Program Director of the Dental Clinical Research Unit at the University of Florida College of Dentistry.