Abstract

The advent of newer caries excavation technique has simplified the guidelines for cavity preparation enormously. The extent and shape of the caries lesion basically defines the design and extent of the present preparations, potentially slightly extended by bevelling the cavity margins in order to satisfy the fashionable concept of minimally invasive dentistry. New caries excavation techniques described by Ahmed AA et al., are introduced, like the utilization of plastic and ceramic burs, improved caries-disclosing dyes, enzymatic caries dissolving agents, caries-selective sono/air abrasion and laser ablation.1 They all aim to get rid of or help remove caries-infected tissue as selectively as possible, while being minimally invasive through maximum preservation of caries affected tissue. Each technique entails a selected caries-removal endpoint and produces residual dentin substrates of various natures and thus different receptiveness for adhesive procedures. New caries excavation techniques favor current situation of COVID-19 era since they are free of aerosol and infection control can be achieved.

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