Minimally invasive dentistry

The concept of minimally invasive treatment has been widely recognised within the medical field for over 40 years, with its first major application in dentistry in the 1970s. The initial ideology however has been around for a lot longer, with Greene Vardiman Black publishing his ideas on ‘extension for prevention’ in 1891. Often referred to as the ‘Father of modern dentistry’, Greene established the basic principles of preventative dental treatment when he looked to avoid the recurrence of dental caries in his patients.

Since then, the concept of minimally invasive dentistry has grown enormously, and is now highly popular amongst modern dental practitioners and their patients. Widely defined as ‘the application of a systematic respect for the original tissue’, minimally invasive procedures involve preserving as much of the natural healthy tissue as possible. Treatment focuses on re-mineralisation of the original tooth structure and prevention of dental caries, with as little intervention from the dentist as possible. Such an approach to treatment encourages professionals and patients alike to tackle the cause of the problem, opposed to simply alleviating the symptoms with traditional restorations. As a result, patients’ natural teeth are protected and they are far less likely to need further dental work in the future.