Background: Lately, a paradigm shift from radical to conservative approach has popularized the selective caries removal over complete excavation in deep caries. Indirect pulp therapy over pulpotomy is being preferred due to risk of questionable pulp vitality in carious exposure of pulp. Silver diamine fluoride can be a useful tool for noninvasive caries management due to its antimicrobial and remineralization properties. Aim: The study aims to evaluate the success of minimum intervention approach using silver-modified atraumatic restorative technique (SMART) as indirect pulp treatment compared to conventional vital pulp therapy in symptomless deep carious lesions of primary molars. Materials and Methods: In this comparative, prospective, double-blinded, clinical interventional study, 60 asymptomatic primary molar teeth with international caries detection and assessment system score 4–6 were selected in children aged 4–8 years and were randomly allocated into SMART and conventional groups. The success of the treatment approach was assessed using clinical and radiographic criteria at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months interval. Results: Data were analyzed using Pearson Chi-Square test at a significance level of 0.05. Conventional group showed 100% and SMART observed 96.15% clinical success at 12 months follow up (P > 0.05). One radiographic failure due to internal resorption at 6 months in SMART and one in the conventional group at 12 months was reported though the difference was insignificant (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Removal of all infected dentin in deep carious lesions is not required for successful caries treatment and SMART can be recommended as a potential biologic approach to manage asymptomatic deep dentinal lesions, based on optimal case selection.

Background: Minimally invasive techniques should be employed to maintain pulp vitality without affecting physiological tooth resorption for pediatric patients. This study aims to evaluate clinical and radiographic success of light cure calcium silicate and resin-modified glass ionomer (RMGI) as indirect pulp-capping agent in primary molars in children between 5 and 9 years. Materials and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial study, 40 primary molars with the International Caries Detection and Assessment System criteria 4–6 score were divided randomly into two groups after computerized randomization method. After caries excavation by minimally invasive dentistry principle, affected dentin was lined by either light cure calcium silicate (Group I) or RMGI (Group II) liner followed by composite restoration. Clinical success was determined with the absence of symptoms and bitewing radiographs were taken at baseline, 3, and 6 months' interval to measure increase in dentin increment using ImageJ software. Statistical analysis for intergroup comparison was done using Paired t-test, and Independent t-test was used for intragroup comparison. The level of statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: Change in dentin increment seen from baseline to 6 months in Group I was 0.19 mm and in Group II was 0.20 mm (P = 0.924). Intragroup increment was statistically significant during all follow-up intervals for both the groups (Group I – P ≤ 0.001, Group II – P = 0.009). For baseline remaining dentin thickness >1.5 mm, statistically significant increase was observed in the dentin increment at 3 months' interval between both the groups. Conclusion: Both TheraCal LC and Vitrebond show acceptable clinical and radiographic results when used in primary molars as indirect pulp treatment agents. Both the liners are equivalent to each other in terms of feasibility and cost-effectiveness but TheraCal LC can be preferred due to better handling and avoiding the manipulation step thereby reducing treatment time.