Study of Minimally Invasive Treatments to Prevent and Control Tooth Decay in Brazilian Children Aged 6 to 12

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating minimally invasive methods to prevent and control dental caries in Brazilian schoolchildren aged 6 to 12 years under routine public health conditions. This multicenter, longitudinal interventional study is coordinated by the Brazilian Association of Pediatric Dentistry and involves 50,000 children from public schools in five Brazilian cities. The study aims to assess how carious lesions progress and how well minimally invasive treatments work in typical school-based health settings. The study has two main phases. In the first phase, all children will undergo dental screening using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System ICDAS and receive preventive care such as fluoride varnish applications, oral health education, supervised toothbrushing, and toothpaste and toothbrush provision. In the second phase, 2,500 children diagnosed with active carious lesions will receive one of four minimally invasive treatment protocols based on lesion severity, including fluoride varnish applications, ART sealants, and atraumatic restorative treatment with optional use of PapacarieDUO. Treatments and preventive measures will be repeated every three months during follow-up. Participants will be followed every three months for up to 24 months to monitor caries activity, the condition of sealants and restorations, the inactivation of white spot lesions, and adherence to preventive oral health habits. Researchers will perform regular dental examinations and apply treatments or maintenance as needed. The study will measure how well these minimally invasive protocols control dental caries and maintain oral health over time, with ongoing evaluations throughout the two-year period.

Longitudinal Evaluation of Minimally Invasive Protocols for Dental Caries in Brazilian Schoolchildren