Caries Management Clinical Practice Guidelines

A panel of experts convened by the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs is writing a series of guidelines with recommendations to enhance clinical decision making at each stage of the caries disease process.

The four guidelines will cover the following topics:

Restorative caries treatments (published 2023)
In 2023, a panel of experts convened by the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs presented clinical recommendations for the use of 16 restorative caries treatments. The guideline recommends which direct restorative materials and caries removal approaches to use for primary and permanent teeth. View restorative caries treatment guideline.

Nonrestorative caries treatments (published 2018)

In 2018, a panel of experts convened by the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs presented clinical recommendations for the use of nine nonrestorative caries treatments, including the ADA's first-ever recommendations for silver diamine fluoride (SDF). View nonrestorative caries treatment guideline

Caries prevention (in progress)

A panel of experts convened by the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs will present recommendations for the use of professionally applied interventions and other management strategies (such as diet and at-home oral hygiene) to decrease the incidence of caries and modify the course of the disease. Email EBD@ADA.org to receive guideline updates

Caries detection and diagnosis

A panel of experts convened by the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs will present clinical recommendations for tools and methods used for the early detection and diagnosis of carious lesions. Email EBD@ADA.org to receive guideline updates

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