The conventional “watch-and-wait” philosophy for caries management has become increasingly obsolete in clinical practice. Contemporary dentistry demands a proactive paradigm that leverages advanced preventive and therapeutic modalities to mitigate disease progression. Passive observation of early carious lesions exposes patients to the risk of untreated progression and potential tooth loss. Current best practices advocate for interventions that prioritize prevention and early management, utilizing evidence-based protocols such as silver diamine fluoride. These approaches enable immediate response when caries is detected, arresting lesions and optimizing patient outcomes. For individuals at elevated risk, the critical question shifts to identifying which preventive strategies—beyond traditional diagnostics or age-based recommendations—will offer the most robust protection. The future of caries care is personalized, risk-based, and tailored to each patient’s unique clinical needs, guided by individual risk factors rather than generalized guidelines or insurance limitations.

Upon successful completion of this CE webinar, participants will be able to:
• Identify evidence-based alternatives to the “watch-and-wait” approach, including the mechanism and clinical efficacy of silver diamine fluoride for caries arrest
• Explain the application and integration of emerging preventive technologies that enhance patient care standards
• Apply strategies for risk assessment and personalized treatment planning using minimally invasive and non-restorative caries management protocols
• Analyze individual patient risk profiles to determine optimal preventive interventions, moving beyond generic guidelines to advanced, patient-centered decision making
• Evaluate the effectiveness of current prevention protocols and recommend improvements within daily practice based on recent scientific evidence
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