Atraumatic Restorative Technique and its application in Early Childhood Caries

Abstract

Background: Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a prevalent dental condition that affects infants and preschoolers, charac-terized by rapid decay of their deciduous teeth. It is common in children with poor bottle-feeding habits and is often ob-served in the maxillary anterior teeth and molars. If left untreated, the disease progresses from initial white-spot lesions to complete tooth crown destruction.

Objectives: This study aims to compare the success rate of Atraumatic Restorative Technique (ART) and conventional techniques in managing Early Childhood Caries.

Materials and Methods: A randomized control trial (RCT) was conducted at Rehman College of Dentistry with 121 chil-dren under 6 years diagnosed with ECC. They were randomly allotted to ART and Conventional groups. Data was collect-ed on pain, restoration failure, and patient experience, with follow-up after 1–3 months.

Results:105 participants completed the study. ART was associated with a higher satisfaction rate (91%) compared to con-ventional methods (67%). Postoperative pain was reported by 6 patients in the ART group and 27 in the conventional group. A total of 32 restorations failed, with 5 ART restorations and 27 conventional restorations dislodging. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference in patient experience between the two techniques (p = 0.003).

Conclusion: ART is a more effective and patient-friendly approach for managing Early Childhood Caries, offering higher patient satisfaction. ART is recommended as a preferable treatment option for young children with ECC.