In the constraints of one article in JADA, it is not possible to cover all aspects of a review. My colleagues, Drs. Eakle and White, both of whom have offices down the hall from me, published an article on this topic [microabrasion] in a prior issue of JADA. I am well aware of the technique and its advantages and disadvantages.
As it was, the editing process removed text and figures that I would have liked to include. My desire is to get the message across to the practitioners that the traditional forms of restorative dentistry are limited in their success and that we must change to new, innovative and more successful means of caries detection, caries risk assessment, caries prevention, caries intervention and minimally invasive restoration where needed. The use of lasers is not a forlorn hope. It is already a clinical reality with more to come.
In our department, we are moving toward the teaching and practice of minimally invasive dentistry. This will surely be a topic for future articles.
I do hope that we can stay with the facts, with published scientific evidence for our procedures, and work together to overhaul dentistry for the benefit of the people of our nation and of the world.
