[Indirect pulp therapy for deciduous teeth with deep caries lesions]

Abstract

Deciduous teeth are the first dentition of humans and play an important role in children's physical and mental development. Dental caries are one of the most common oral diseases in children. According to the data of the World Health Organization, 60%-90% of school children worldwide develop dental caries. In China, dental caries of primary teeth feature high incidence and low rate of visits. Without timely treatment, the deep caries lesions of primary teeth can lead to teeth defect, pulpitis, apical periodontitis, and maxillofacial space infection. Moreover, the premature loss of deciduous teeth can cause malocclusion and eruption disorder of subsequent permanent teeth. These conditions all cause considerable effects on children's oral health and physical and mental development. Performing active and effective measures to treat deciduous teeth with deep caries lesions is important to maintain the integrity and normal physiological function of dentition and facilitate normal eruption of permanent teeth. The current situation of indirect pulp therapy in China was studied in this paper. Basic concepts, including indirect pulp capping, interim therapeutic restoration, partial caries removal, stepwise caries removal, and atraumatic restorative therapy, have been defined by consulting domestic and foreign literature. A theoretical basis for improving the clinical pathway of deciduous teeth with deep caries lesions is provided by explaining the technical connotation and therapeutic importance of indirect pulp therapy in primary teeth.

Keywords: atraumatic restorative therapy; deciduous teeth with deep caries lesions; indirect pulp capping; indirect pulp therapy; interim therapeutic restorations.