Traditionally, dental practitioners relied on complete caries excavation and conventional diagnostic terminology that frequently led to over-treatment or premature extraction.
However, emerging scientific evidence regarding the pulp’s innate healing and regenerative capacity has triggered a significant paradigm shift.
To bridge the gap between historic protocols and contemporary evidence-based practice, sixteen leading international specialists in pediatric dentistry and endodontics convened at the 3rd IAPD Summit in Porto, Portugal.
The resulting clinical consensus establishes a comprehensive framework designed to standardize and elevate clinical workflows.
Utilizing a rigorous three-phase Delphi consensus methodology, the panel developed thirty-eight strategic recommendations covering critical clinical domains: pulp inflammation and diagnosis, caries excavation strategies, the active management of pulpitis, and the immediate stabilization of traumatic dental injuries.
Mechanistically, these guidelines emphasize minimally invasive, biologically driven tiered approaches.
Key clinical mandates include favoring selective caries removal over complete excavation to avoid unnecessary pulpal exposure, and establishing calcium silicate cements as the gold-standard materials for vital pulp therapy.
Furthermore, the consensus introduces structured decision trees to manage irreversible pulpitis conservatively, prioritizing the long-term vitality of both deciduous and permanent teeth.
Ultimately, these guidelines provide a vital clinical blueprint, shifting contemporary dental practice away from reactive, destructive treatments and toward proactive, preservation-focused care.
📃 To explore the comprehensive methodology, the detailed list of thirty-eight clinical consensus statements, and the practical decision trees for implementation in daily pediatric practice, you are invited to review the full open-access research article. Download and Read the Full Article in PDF Format.
