Conservative dentistry consists of minimally invasive procedures that focus on only removing what’s considered to be damaged or unnecessary, leaving the remaining healthy tooth structure behind during the restorative process.

It is a branch of dentistry that provides for the replacement of decayed tissue through the compaction and modelling of composite resin. An in-depth examination of the oral cavity, supported by intraoral radiographs, enables a precise diagnosis of caries.

Once the correct diagnosis has been made, the dentist removes the tissue affected by decay and isolates the operating field to ensure total sterility. Finally, previously chosen composite material is introduced into the cavity.

With the advent of adhesive dentistry, there is a tendency to preserve as much healthy tooth substance as possible, thus removing only the compromised portion of the tooth.

In the same way, conservative restorative dentistry deals with reconstructing dental elements damaged by fractures resulting from traumatic events, or replacing previous amalgam restorations that are affected by secondary caries.

Restorative dentistry, therefore, aims to restore the functionality and aesthetics of the damaged tooth by removing decayed or fractured tissue with minimal invasiveness and replacing it with natural looking materials.