Dentists' Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Regarding Minimally Invasive Dentistry in Cairo and Beni-Seuf: a Cross Sectional Comparative Study

Dental caries is the most common infectious disease worldwide; approximately 36% of the world's population has carious lesions in their permanent teeth . In Egypt, dental caries is prevalent among Egyptian adolescents .In addition, dental caries, is a bacterial infectious disease that can damage teeth and restorations if microflora is not managed.

The traditional restorative method is based on G.V. Black's concept of extension for prevention. This surgical intervention pushes the tooth into a viscous circle of repeated restorations, which will eventually decrease the restoration longevity. On the contrary, minimal intervention dentistry (MID) focuses on preserving existing tooth structure and advocates a biological approach to treating dental caries. It is widely used in the dentistry curriculum to control dental cavities . The minimally invasive caries management paradigm focuses on recognizing and eliminating causal causes as well as healing carious lesions. In addition to the wide use of adhesive restorations. The MID concept utilizes new technology to create a simplified conceptual model of disease processes .

Nowadays, as a result of advancements in the field of dental restorative materials and an increased awareness of how diseases begin and progress, have paved the path for the development of minimally invasive and preventive dental caries treatment and prevention techniques . Thus,this research aims to evaluate the extent to which MID concepts for treating dental caries are popular among practicing dentists in Cairo and Benisuef.

Dental caries is a preventable infectious disease and is considered the primary cause of restorative placement and replacement . As evidence-based dentistry has developed through the years, technology has improved, and dental caries rates have reduced among the population. An innovative approach for managing dental caries emerged in the early 1970s, drawing inspiration from the principles of the medical model. This new way of thinking gave priority to conservative cavity preparations, early caries detection, adhesive restorative materials, chemotherapeutic agents, remineralization of tooth structure (fluoride), caries risk assessment, conservative cavity preparations, and tooth preservation techniques in order to minimize invasive interventions and preserve tooth structure. In the dental profession, decision-making is a challenging procedure. Numerous studies have demonstrated that a wide range of factors, including the affordability of therapy for patients, their preferences, and the training of physicians, influence this decision.

Dr. G.V. Black was the first dentist to demonstrate the treatment of dental caries using engineering principles to improve cavity preparations according to materials available at that time. The traditional restorative method is based on extension for prevention. This surgical intervention pushes the tooth into an endless circle of repeated restorations, which will eventually decrease the restoration's longevity . This traditional surgical approach prioritizes restoration material retention over sound tooth structure preservation due to the belief that caries is irreversible, patients with carious lesions are at high risk for disease progression, and restorations are often planned at the first appointment. Decisions are based on radiographic evidence, or DEJ. So Black's principles are considered an aggressive approach by modern dental standards.