Authors: G T Arotiba, A O Loto, O Ijarogbe, D Umesi, I Menakaya, AO Awotile, JO Makanjuola, OA Adenuga-Taiwo
This paper highlighted the scientific rationale for the 4 major caries management systems/pathways (CaMPs) which paved the way for the emergence of minimum intervention dentistry (MID) as the evidence based, holistic, patient centered and prevention focused approach to managing dental caries in the 21st century. Clinical principles and strategies for implementing MID in dental education and practice were discussed and a new definition of MID proposed.
The GC Corporation minimum intervention treatment plan (MITP) was used as a template for the integration of outstanding features of caries management by risk assessment (CAMBRA), international caries diagnosis and assessment system and the international caries classification and management system (ICDAS-ICCMS) and Brostek and Walsh’s minimum intervention dentistry in general dental practice (MIDGDP).
The outstanding features of the new integrated minimum intervention treatment plan (IMITP) were highlighted and proposed with a scoring system as a template for implementing MID in dental education and practice in Africa and developing economies. In addition, these outstanding features of IMITP were proposed for integration into CAMBRA and ICDAS-ICCMS-Caries care international-4D (CCI-4D) for an objective, patient centered and measurable evaluation of the outcome of counselling, preventive and restorative interventions of minimum intervention dentistry.