The impact of the ART approach on the treatment profile in a Mobile DentalSystem (MDS) in South Africa

The changing profile of oral care rendered through the Mobile Dental System (MDS), after the introduction of the Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART ) approach is described. During the first year of introduction of ART, the percentages of amalgam restorations and tooth extractions decreased signifi cantly (P<0.0001). This is partly ascribed to a change in choice of treatme nt by dental operators in favour of ART and also due to an increase in acce ptance by patients because of the reduced fear, and the patient-friendly na ture of the ART approach. The reduction in amalgam restorations was 16.0 pe r cent for permanent and 1.4 per cent for primary posterior teeth. Extracti on of posterior teeth was reduced by 17.4 per cent in the permanent and 35. 7 per cent in the primary dentitions. The restorative component of oral car e increased by 33.4 per cent in the permanent and 37.1 per cent in primary posterior teeth. The one-year survival of one-surface ART restorations usin g Fuji IX and KetacMolar was 93.6 per tent. Full and partial (more than 90 per cent) retention of the sealant part of the ART restoration was obtained in 75 per cent of the cases after one-year. During the one-year period, in fection control was made more simple and this facilitated easier maintenanc e of mobile dental equipment. The introduction of the ART approach reduced extraction, restored more teeth and made oral care in the MDS more preventi ve, less threatening and thus more patient-friendly.