Minimally dental interventions are, by definition, the least invasive methods possible for combating the demineralisation of enamel and the development of caries. They involve the early detection of changes and possible intervention at a minimum level. Knowledge and awareness of the patient play a very important role in this concept. This concept is in contrast to the commonly used concept, which assumes that carious lesions are removed, thus causing cavities to expand.
The understanding of the aetiology and pathogenesis of the demineralisation process, as well as the process of caries development, has paved the way for a new concept in dentistry, namely the concept of minimally invasive dentistry. It focuses on the assumptions, based on scientific evidence, which show that demineralisation that has not yet led to the formation of a cavity in the enamel or dentin can be completely healed, thus providing an alternative to a surgical approach to the treatment of carious lesions.
The concept of minimally, as the name suggests, refers to minimal, least invasive interventions to the affected tissue. It is a form of professional dental care that emphasises early detection of lesions, and treatment at the microscopic (molecular) level. However, it does not presuppose activity on the part of the specialists alone, namely its basic premise is patient education. The patient should be provided with adequate information and instruction on oral hygiene and care, and thus made aware of his/her responsibility for the health of his/her teeth to such an extent that he/she requires only minimal medical intervention. Minimal dental intervention is a range of educational, diagnostic and interventional activities aimed at detecting disease at the earliest possible stage and preventing its development and avoiding surgical treatment. It is, therefore, quintessentially preventive dentistry and oral hygiene.
This concept is an innovative approach to the problem of combating caries. It is in opposition to the G. V. classification, which has been used for almost the entire last century. V. Black, which assumes that the treatment of carious lesions is their removal. The effect of this, using dental instruments as we know them in most cases, such as high-speed rotary cutting tools, was to widen the cavity and weaken the tooth crown. The state of the art at the time is to blame for this. Now that we know a little more about carious lesions, we know that we are dealing with a transmissible problem, i.e. an infectious disease involving carious bacteria in the plaque.
In the light of current knowledge, in cases of lesions at the microscopic level, the application of an appropriate therapy, using fluoride, contributes to the restoration of the lesions. It should be borne in mind, however, that in cases of carious lesions that are more advanced and have already penetrated the enamel or dentine, causing cavities, surgical intervention and restorations remain a necessity.
