Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) is a minimally invasive treatment technique for restoring teeth by means of hand instrumentation for decay removal and fluoride-releasing adhesive materials for filling ART was developed as a treatment approach in developing countries, where resources might not be available for a more definitive treatment ART is a biological approach which requires minimal cavity preparation that conserves sound tooth tissues and causes less trauma to teeth Indicated in Root carries, Anxious children and adults, when accessibility by hand instruments is possible, in small cavities, caries involving enamel and dentine, in public health programs

1. ART
Atraumatic Restorative
Treatment
By DR Sana Masood

2. Contents
● Introduction
● Principles
● Material used in ART
● Instruments
● Procedure
● Indications & Contra-indication
● Conclusion

3. Introduction
Definition:
Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) is a minimally
invasive treatment technique for restoring teeth by means of
hand instrumentation for decay removal and fluoride-releasing
adhesive materials (glass ionomer) for filling

4. Background:
● ART was developed as a treatment approach in developing countries,
where resources might not be available for a more definitive
treatment
● Unlike the conventional methods ART is non-threatening, not
painful,
● therefore does not need anaesthesia, does not use expensive
electrically driven equipment and can be provided at low cost.
● This technique is simple enough to train non-dental personnel or
primary healthcare workers.
● All one needs are a flat surface for the patient to lie, a stool for the
operator and the
● necessary instruments and materials for ART which can easily be
carried in a small bag.

6. Principles
The two main principles of ART are:
● Removing carious tooth tissue using hand instruments only
● Restoring the cavity with a glass ionomer
● The reasons for using hand instruments rather than electric
driven handpieces are:
.It makes restorative care accessible to all population groups
.The use of a biological approach
.The low cost of hand instruments
.Simplified infection control

7. Material used in ART
Glass-lonomer as a Restorative Material
● Since GIC chemically (not mechanically) bind to the teeth,
the need to cut sound tooth tissue to prepare the cavity is
reduced
● It release fluoride
● It possesses high powder to liquid ratio which improved
mechanical property

8. Instruments used in ART
● Mouth mirror
● Explore
● Pair of tweezers
● Spoon excavator
● Dental hatchet
● Carver
● Cotton pallet
● Cotton rolls
● Wedges
● Plastic stripes
● Petroleum jelly
● Mixing pad

9. Carver Dental hatchet Mixing pad
Plastic stripes
Wedges

10. Procedure

14. Indications & Contra-indications
Indications:
● Root carries
● Anxious children and adults
● When accessibility by hand instruments is possible
● In small cavities
● Caries involving enamel and dentine
● In public health programs

15. Contra-indications
● When abscess or fistula is present
● When pulp is exposed
● When teeth have been painful for long time
● There is no accessibility of hand instruments

16. ● ART is NOT a compromise but a perfect alternative
treatment approach for developing countries and
special groups in the industrialized world.
● ART is a biological approach which requires minimal
cavity preparation that conserves sound tooth
tissues and causes less trauma to teeth.
● As ART is painless the need for local anaesthetics
are reduced and so is the psychological trauma to
patients.
● Simplifies infection control
● No electrically driven and expensive dental
equipment needed whichenables ART to be
practised in remote areas and in the field.
Conclusion

17. ● ART approach is very cost effective since it is a friendly
procedure, there are great potentials for its use among
children, fearful adults, physically and mentally handicapped
and the elderly.

18. Reference
Community dentistry by Joseph johan