Atraumatic restorative treatment. Can we trust in this technique?

Abstract

The Atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) was developed with the intention of restoring decayed teeth in locations where conventional treatment was not possible. In Brazil, this technique has been suggested on the rolls of SUS to students and in places where access is precarious. This article aims to explain: the advantages of the technique; the indications; and the technique step by step. It can be concluded that: the ART is a technique of broad social impact, reducing dental chair time, endodontics and extractions, being easy to apply both in the dental chair as in locations without equipment. Its limitations relate to size and retention of the cavity, quality of the restorative material and especially the low acceptance on the part of the dentist and the community.