The MIOC delivery model comprises four interlinked clinical domains:
1. Identify Disease
✔ Emphasizes early detection of carious lesions.
✔ Includes ongoing risk and susceptibility evaluation, diagnostics, and personalized treatment planning.
2. Prevention and Disease Control
✔ Focuses on non-invasive strategies such as:
- Patient behavior modification.
- Biofilm and dietary control.
- Remineralization of enamel and dentin.
- Micro-invasive sealants and infiltration to halt or reverse early lesions.
3. Minimally Invasive Operative Procedures
✔ Encourages selective carious dentine removal.
✔ Integrates the “5Rs” management of the tooth-restoration complex: Review, Refurbish, Re‑seal, Repair, and Replace — underscoring repair over replacement whenever feasible.
4. Tailored Recall, Review & Re-assessment
✔ Advocates for customized follow-up consultations to monitor disease progression and adjust care plans as needed.
The authors clarify a frequent misconception: MIOC is distinct from “minimally invasive operative dentistry (MID)”, with MID representing just one pillar— the operative component—of the broader MIOC system.
MIOC extends beyond caries management, being relevant to all domains of restorative dentistry, emphasizing a paradigm shift toward prevention and preservation of tooth structure.
Dentists worldwide are invited to access and study the Full PDF of the article to delve deeper into the MIOC framework and its implications for modern, patient-focused caries management.
