ATRAUMATIC RESTORATIVE TREATMENT AS A MINIMALLY INVASIVE TECHNIQUE: A LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

This article aimed to review the scientific literature on Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART), highlighting its evolution, applicability, and effectiveness in promoting oral health, especially among vulnerable populations. A literature review was conducted between March and July 2018 using the Science Direct, PubMed, and SciELO databases, with descriptors related to minimal intervention, public health, and restorative materials. Initially, 40 articles were selected, and 26 met the inclusion criteria. The results indicate that ART is a safe, effective, and low-cost technique, recommended by the World Health Organization and widely used in Brazil’s Family Health Strategy (FHS). Its execution with manual instruments, without anesthesia or electrical equipment, makes it especially suitable for settings with limited infrastructure. Additionally, the use of materials such as glass ionomer cements, resin-based materials, and resin-modified ionomers showed good clinical performance, with high retention rates and effective caries lesion arrest. It is concluded that ART represents a key strategy for expanding access to dental care, promoting a more humanized, preventive, and conservative approach.