The ADA Science & Research Institute, working with an expert panel convened by the ADA Council on Scientific Affairs, has developed a clinical practice guideline on restorative treatments for caries lesions in primary and permanent teeth. This guideline was informed by a systematic review of the best available scientific evidence considered by the clinical and translation research team at the ADASRI.
Restorative Treatments for Caries Lesions Clinical Practice Guideline (2023)
This clinical practice guideline will recommend which direct restorative materials and caries removal approaches to use for primary and permanent teeth.
Chairside Guides
Recommendations for carious tissue removal and direct restorative materials in primary teeth
Recommendations for carious tissue removal and direct restorative materials in permanent teeth
Evidence-Based Resources
Use the clinician and patient tabs below to access the full guideline, chairside guides summarizing the guideline's recommendations for primary and permanent teeth, "For the Patient" pages that explain tooth decay and options for treating it to patients, and much more.
- Clinical recommendations
- Systematic review
- Plain language summary
- Chairside guide for the restorative treatment of carious lesions on:
- JADA commentary: “Caries Management for the Modern Age”
- Oral Health Topics on:
- ADA Clinical Evaluators (ACE) Panel Reports on:
- ADASRI Research on materials used for restorative treatment of carious lesions in posterior teeth
- New Dentist Now blog: What It's Like to Develop a Clinical Practice Guideline
- Search JADA for research related to restorative caries treatment
- ADA Library resources
Content on this page is for informational purposes only. It is based off on the “Evidence-based clinical practice guideline on restorative treatments for caries lesions,” published in the July 2023 issue of The Journal of the American Dental Association. Content is neither intended to nor does it establish a standard of care or the official policy or position of the ADA; and is not a substitute for professional judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. ADA is not responsible for information on external websites linked to this website.
Clinical practice guidelines include recommendation statements intended to optimize patient care that are informed by a systematic review of evidence and an assessment of the benefits and harms of alternative care options.