Despite long-term efforts to use appropriate dental equipment for treating dental caries in economically less developed countries, the predominant treatment remains extraction. The reasons for this failure to save teeth are given in this paper. Supported by results of research undertaken in economically developed countries, a 15-step treatment module for dental caries is presented. This technique, which is called Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART), is based on removing decalcified tooth tissue using only hand instruments and restoring the cavity with an adhesive filling material. The technique does not require electricity. The advantages and limitations of the technique are discussed and its use in a school oral health program in Zimbabwe presented. We conclude that ART can make restorative oral care more available to a larger part of the world population than it is today.
Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) approach includes both prevention and treatment of dental caries. ART procedure is based on excavating and removing caries using hand instruments only and then restoring the tooth with an adhesive filling material (glass – ionomer).
This technique is simple enough to train non-dental personnel or primary health care workers. Unlike the conventional methods ART is non-threatening, does not need expensive electrically driven equipment and can be provided at low cost.
ART is suited in the field – for instance in schools, village halls or in health centers with minimum equipment and resources. All one needs are a flat surface for the patient, a stool for the operator and the necessary instruments and materials for ART which can be easily carried in a small bag. ART is a perfect alternative treatment apprach for dental caries in the developing countries where quite often teeth are left to decay to such an extent that they are extracted.
.
