Abstract

Dental caries remains the most common chronic disease in children worldwide, with significant implications for their health, well-being, and quality of life. While traditional treatments have often relied on surgical interventions, today’s evidence strongly supports a shift toward prevention, early detection, and minimally invasive management - especially in pediatric dentistry, where reducing fear and discomfort is essential.

This lecture will focus on innovative, child-friendly strategies for managing caries in young patients.

We will present a risk-based approach to prevention, including the use of fluoride therapies such as varnishes, which support remineralization and can effectively arrest early lesions. Special attention will be given to non-invasive and micro-invasive techniques that eliminate the need for drilling or local anesthesia, making them ideal for managing caries in children. We will explore tools for early diagnosis - from visual-tactile methods to adjunctive technologies - that support clinicians in making informed, minimally invasive treatment decisions.

Through real clinical cases and step-by-step protocols, participants will learn how to integrate these strategies into daily practice, demonstrating that “prevention-first” approaches can be both effective and well-tolerated by pediatric patients.

Learning Objectives

• Discuss the prevalence and impact of dental caries in pediatric populations and its relevance to public health.
• Apply principles of risk-based caries assessment in children, including the use of tools like CAMBRA adapted for pediatric care.
• Implement preventive strategies using fluoride therapies and home care routines specifically designed for young patients.
• Describe non-invasive and minimally invasive techniques for caries arrest that are appropriate for pediatric settings.
• Utilize diagnostic aids to support early caries detection and guide conservative treatment planning in children.