Treatment methods for deep carious lesions in permanent teeth: A literature review

Complete removal of carious dentin is currently regarded as overtreatment, and the stepwise (twostep) or selective (one-step) caries removal procedures are recommended. This literature review was aimed to summarize research findings on deep caries lesion management approaches in permanent teeth, to determine which method provides better outcomes and to identify possible research gaps. Only intervention studies published between 2000 and 2023 in the English language were considered. The PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases were searched in September 2023, and 7 relevant records were considered for assessment. This literature review has shown that the number of studies comparing the methods of deep caries lesion management is limited, and the significant differences in protocols regarding the cavity depth, the endpoint of tissue excavation and the material used for cavity restoration indicate the need for the standardization of treatment. Both oneand two-stage caries removal significantly reduce the risk of pulp exposure in comparison with complete excavation; however, further clinical trials with long follow-up periods are necessary to determine which caries removal approach, stepwise or selective, provides better outcomes.