Latvian Dental Professionals' Views on Minimally Invasive Caries Management Strategies

Objectives: This study aims to identify the facilitators and barriers faced by dental professionals in Latvia regarding minimally invasive dentistry (MID) techniques. It focuses on understanding the factors influencing the implementation of non-invasive and minimally invasive caries management strategies in paediatric dental care within the public dental health care system.
Methods: A qualitative study was conducted, using semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and clinic administrators in Latvia. The data were collected through in-person or online interviews (n=15), which were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using inductive content analysis. Before the start of the study, ethical considerations were implemented to ensure confidentiality and compliance with data security regulations. Participants were provided with informed consent forms. Study protocol registration at OSF: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/2BK7A
Results: The preliminary categories the dental professionals noted are 1) facilitators (key factors include being child-friendly, efficient, and cost-effective); 2) barriers (challenges include insufficient training, inadequate reimbursement policies, and resistance among dental professionals to transition from traditional methods to newer techniques); 3) strategies to promote MID usability (proposed solutions involve improving access to training, offering financial incentives, and implementing supportive public health policies).
Conclusions: Dental professionals talked about key barriers and facilitators influencing their integration of evidence-based MID techniques into paediatric dental care in Latvia. The insights gained from this research can inform the development of targeted strategies to enhance the adoption of minimally invasive caries management, with the ultimate goal of improving child dental health outcomes.