Restorative dentistry in children aims to maintain tooth vitality, restore function, and prevent further disease progression while preserving as much natural tooth structure as possible.
Treatment decisions should be based on individual caries risk assessment, disease activity, and the child’s behavioural and medical circumstances.
Core principles include:
The goal is to provide durable restorations that maintain oral health and function throughout childhood and into adulthood.
(Evaluated for Global Agreement in 2022)
High viscosity glass ionomer cements may be used in atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) or interim therapeutic restorations (ITR), as an option for conventional treatment in primary teeth. ART/ITR may be used for controlling caries in children who are not cooperative for definitive treatment or for treating multiple open carious lesions before definitive restoration.
Global Agreement: 100%
Glass ionomer and resin-modified glass ionomer restorative materials may be used for single-surface restorations in primary and permanent posterior teeth.
Global Agreement: 87%
Where local regulations permit and without contraindications to the use of amalgam, providers may use dental amalgam for restorations based on clinical judgement and shared decision-making.
Global Agreement: 79%
Because of the greater longevity of preformed metal crowns, their use may be recommended for high-risk children with multi-surface or large cavitated lesions on primary molars, particularly when children undergo full mouth rehabilitation under general anaesthesia.
Global Agreement: 95%
In cases of permanent teeth with large carious lesions or severe enamel defects, preformed metal crowns may be used as semi-permanent restorations.
Global Agreement: 95%
Zirconia crowns are an aesthetic alternative to preformed metal crowns and may be used for teeth with similar indications.
Global Agreement: 79%
To support clinical implementation and knowledge translation, IAPD has developed complementary educational materials.
Expert discussions exploring restorative decision-making and minimally invasive approaches in paediatric dentistry.
Relevant webinars address restorative strategies, material selection, and minimally invasive management in children.
International Association of Paediatric Dentistry (IAPD).
IAPD Foundational Articles and Recommendations on Behaviour Guidance in Paediatric Dental Patients.
Originally published 2019. Global Agreement Validation 2022.
