Treating high caries risk patients can be both overwhelming and frustrating. The challenge often lies in the sheer number of restorations needed, combined with the imperative to preserve as much natural tooth structure as possible. Frustration arises when risk factors remain unaddressed, leading to recurrent caries—even around newly placed restorations.
This lecture will cover the diagnosis of caries lesions and provide guidance on appropriate thresholds for intervention. An evidence-based framework for developing an individualized prevention plan will be outlined, along with strategies for arresting caries and promoting lesion remineralization. Finally, the course will explore the use of bioactive materials, both as liners for pulp protection in deep caries cases and as ion-releasing restorative materials designed to help prevent future caries.
Course objectives:
- Learn new techniques for diagnosis of caries and thresholds for operative treatment
- Learn to develop a prevention treatment plan
- Learn how to use silver diamine fluoride and resin infiltration to arrest caries
- Learn clinical application of bioactive pulp capping materials and restorative materials
DMD, PhD - Birmingham, Alabama
Nate Lawson DMD PhD is the Director of the Division of Biomaterials at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry and the program director of the Biomaterials residency program. He graduated from UAB School of Dentistry in 2011 and obtained his PhD in Biomedical Engineering in 2012. His research interests are the mechanical, optical, and biologic properties of dental materials and clinical evaluation of new dental materials. He has published over 300 peer reviewed articles, book chapters, and research abstracts. He served on the American Dental Association Council of Scientific Affairs and is on the editorial board of The Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry and Compendium. He has lectured nationally and internationally on the subject of dental materials. He also works as a general dentist in the UAB Faculty Practice.
