Atraumatic Restorative Treatment: evaluation of its viability as an approach to the management of dental caries in public health

Abstract

In order to evaluate the viability of the Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) as an approach to the management of dental caries in public health, 20 children from a lowincome community of Fortaleza took part in educational and preventive activities. They had all their cavities restored with glass ionomer cement, differing only in what concerns the restorative proceedings: in group I (control), they were submitted to traditional restorations in clinical environment; in group II, the ART was applied at a neighbouring school location. The ART was well-accepted by the participants and, after 45 days, clinical performance of restorations did not show significant differences between group I and II. The restorations in Class I cavities were superior in performance to those of Class II, for both groups. By comparing the ART costs to the costs related to restoration proceedings traditionally accomplished with amalgam, in the public service, the simplicity and cheapness of the ART becomes evident, with a cost/benefit relationship that is favourable to the systematic use of the ART in public health as an approach to the management of dental caries, though longer assessment is desirable.