Should new operating procedures arising from COVID-19 make us re-think our management of deep caries?

TY - JOUR

T1 - Should new operating procedures arising from COVID-19 make us re-think our management of deep caries?

AU - Melo, Luciana

AU - Blum, Igor R.

AU - Foxton, Richard M.

PY - 2022/3/1

Y1 - 2022/3/1

N2 - COVID-19 has impacted heavily on the delivery of dental services within the UK, particularly in regards to aerosol generating procedures (AGPs). However, it has created an opportunity to reflect on how operative dental procedures, such as the management of dental caries, are undertaken. In light of recent evidence in favour of speed increasing contra-angle handpieces in combination with an electric micromotor to eliminate the generation of aerosols at certain speeds while still allowing the cutting of hard tooth tissue, albeit at a slower rate than the traditional air-turbine, this article explores the evidence for partial caries removal using the electric micromotor system. Aspects of maintaing the health of the pulpal tissue using this system and adopting a logical approach to placing adhesive direct resin composites to faciliate an optimum outcome for the patient are also explored.

AB - COVID-19 has impacted heavily on the delivery of dental services within the UK, particularly in regards to aerosol generating procedures (AGPs). However, it has created an opportunity to reflect on how operative dental procedures, such as the management of dental caries, are undertaken. In light of recent evidence in favour of speed increasing contra-angle handpieces in combination with an electric micromotor to eliminate the generation of aerosols at certain speeds while still allowing the cutting of hard tooth tissue, albeit at a slower rate than the traditional air-turbine, this article explores the evidence for partial caries removal using the electric micromotor system. Aspects of maintaing the health of the pulpal tissue using this system and adopting a logical approach to placing adhesive direct resin composites to faciliate an optimum outcome for the patient are also explored.

KW - COVID-19

KW - dental caries

KW - minimally interventive dentistry

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85127652177&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/20501684221085872

DO - 10.1177/20501684221085872

M3 - Article

C2 - 35383500

AN - SCOPUS:85127652177

SN - 2050-1684

VL - 11

SP - 72

EP - 74

JO - Primary Dental Journal

JF - Primary Dental Journal

IS - 1

ER -