Selective vs. stepwise caries excavation: what we know and what we don't.

As dentists, we aim to provide the best possible treatment for our patients, avoiding both undertreatment and overtreatment. Using a three-step classification of extensive carious lesions, we will discuss treatment modalities based on available evidence and current understanding of caries pathology. The depth of caries penetration has clear clinical implications, yet it has not always been used systematically when defining treatment indications.

Pulp biology and the limits of diagnosis.

Clinical diagnosis of the dental pulp is frequently challenging. It depends on evaluating clinical signs, symptoms, sensibility testing, and radiographic findings. However, the available diagnostic categories for the vital inflamed pulp do not address the growing interest in preserving, at least in part, the vital pulp. This presentation will address the progress in research on combining traditional diagnostic testing with the use of molecular biomarkers to better define diagnostic terms and potentially predict the outcomes of vital pulp therapy.

Q & A: All Speakers (Questions will be submitted by the audience)

Closing Remarks