Research proposal: evaluation of the ART approach in elderly patients.

With the increase of life expectancy in the world's population, oral health care of elderly people has attracted considerably more attention over the last years. Many elderly may benefit from oral health promotion measures that involve the Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) approach. The purpose of this study will be to evaluate, over 3 years of follow-up, the clinical behavior of atraumatic restorations placed in elderly patients. The study will comprise a structured interview, intraoral clinical examination, oral hygiene instructions and the atraumatic restorative treatment. Intraoral examination will be carried out as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Small to medium size class I, II or V cavities without pulp involvement and spontaneous painful symptomatology will be selected to undergo the atraumatic restorative treatment. The restorations will be evaluated by direct observation at baseline and after 6, 12, 24 and 36 months, using modified USPHS criteria. Two dentists with training and expertise in the ART approach, but who will not participate in the ART procedures, will evaluate the restorations.