Restorative Thresholds of Dental Therapists: A UK Perspective

OBJECTIVES: To explore the knowledge and perception amongst dental therapists in the United Kingdom of minimum intervention oral care (MIOC), minimally invasive dentistry (MID), and the management of dental caries from an initial lesion to a deep carious lesion, with a focus on both treatment and preventive care. METHODS: A previously used electronic questionnaire was distributed to dental therapists in the United Kingdom. Respondents reported year of qualification, current restorative thresholds, and postgraduate training and preventive care practices on deep caries management over the past 5 years. RESULTS: The year of qualification influenced the type of cavity preparation dental therapists are likely to perform. Participants who had attended a course in minimum intervention cariology and operative dentistry were more likely to adhere to minimally invasive protocols. While early-stage caries treatment showed consistency, the clinical approach became more varied for deeper lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Dental therapists in the UK show variation in their restorative thresholds. Clinical treatment decisions become more varied when dealing with deeper carious lesions, especially when the lesion encroaches the inner third of dentine. Restorative thresholds and choice of treatment protocols appear to be positively affected by the number of years post qualification and recent attendance on a caries management course.