Compared with conventional drilling, MID reduces tooth structure removal by using which strategy?

• A. Full caries removal and restoration
• B. Selective removal and sealing
• C. Immediate crown placement
• D. Extraction

Answer: (B)

Minimally invasive dentistry focuses on preserving tooth structure by treating caries in a conservative way. The best strategy is selective removal of carious dentin and sealing the rest. By removing only the dentin that is infected and leaving demineralized but non-infected dentin, then sealing the cavity with an adhesive, the progression of caries can be arrested while much of the healthy tooth is preserved. This approach reduces how much tooth is removed compared with conventional drilling, which aims to eliminate all caries and often shapes the cavity more aggressively. Other options like immediate crown placement or extraction don’t embody this preservation-focused strategy.