ABSTRACT:
This article describes the principles and procedures involved in minimum intervention dentistry. The Minimum intervention dentistry aims at early recognition of dental caries, identifying the risk factors, and thereby preventing them from progression by implementing appropriate preventive care. This method helps in preserving the tooth structure, provided the caries are detected at a much early stage. The success of the treatment mainly depends on the diagnosis and the treatment protocol varies depending upon the stage of diagnosis. Among the available treatment options for managing dental caries, the minimal invasive technique should be chosen to preserve the sound tooth structure. Before starting any dental treatment, the potential side effects should be considered. For example, loss of tooth structure by cavity preparation is an unacceptable effect of caries removal. To overcome this, MID has a specific rationale of 'Drilling without filling' and changes the concept of 'Extension for prevention' to 'Prevention of Extension'. It evaluates the risk factors, controls the diseases through prevention and remineralization, assesses the need for invasive treatment and repairs the damage through minimal intervention. MID is not just a technique, but a philosophy and the dental practitioner should employ these principles in day-to-day practice to benefit the patient by early prevention and intervention