Is there consensus for the treatment of initial to moderate caries lesions? - a Delphi first-round study

The effectiveness of evidence-based operative recommendations is often complicated by variations in study design and a lack of use of standardized or validated materials / operative techniques. These gaps in evidence can lead to confusion and hinder clinicians’ ability to apply guidelines in clinical practice. The objective of the presented paper is to compare the clinical recommendations from 17 experts regarding the management of early and moderate proximal and occlusal caries lesions. This paper employs the Delphi methodology to evaluate the expert recommendations presented and compare them with existing EBD guidelines. This study highlights a clear hierarchy in the therapeutic choices made by experts. The highest compliance is seen with the initial, evidence-based treatment options, while responses diverge as more specific or novel options are introduced. The variability in expert responses suggests a lack of clear and standardized guidelines for partially or non-cavitated lesions, a gap in EBD protocols that could benefit from further research and consensus-building.