EC Dental Science

For over a century, the management of dental caries has been fundamentally surgical, defined by the mantra of "extension for prevention" and driven by the rotary bur. The 21^st century, however, has ushered in a paradigm shift. Minimally Invasive Dentistry (MID) has evolved from a concept into a suite of clinically proven technologies and philosophies that prioritize disease control and tissue preservation over restorative replacement [1]. This article explores the pillars of this new era-MID 2.0-including caries stabilization with Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF), the micro-invasive infiltration of incipient lesions, and the precision of air abrasion and hard-tissue lasers. We will discuss how these approaches, grounded in a biological understanding of the caries process, are transforming patient experiences and clinical outcomes, effectively heralding the end of the drill as our primary tool.

 Keywords: Minimally Invasive Dentistry (MID); Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF); Micro-Invasive Infiltration

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