“Evaluation of Fluoride Release and Compressive Strength of A Bioactive Restorative Material and Its Clinical Performance in Atraumatic Restorative Treatment in Primary Molars: An in Vitro Study & A Randomized Controlled Trial”¬

Abstract

Dental caries is still considered a major global public health problem. According to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study in 2015, untreated caries in permanent teeth is among the most prevalent chronic conditions worldwide, affecting 2.5 billion people, whereas untreated caries in deciduous teeth was ranked as the 12th most prevalent condition, affecting 560 million children1 Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a multifactorial disease which as any carious lesion is caused by poor oral hygiene, bacterial invasion, bad dietary habits, along with a series of biological and social factors.2 ECC adversely affects children's quality of life as it induces pain or in severe cases infection which subsequently lead to functional limitations, malnutrition, speech impairment, learning difficulties, and low self-esteem.3 At both family and societal levels, the economic burden of ECC is explicit as caries management often requires extensive restorative treatment modalities such as pulp therapy, extraction, and placement of space maintainers. In severe cases of ECC, treatment might be undertaken under conscious sedation or general anesthesia particularly when children are too young or/and definite uncooperative.4