CATEGORY AUSTRALASIAN DENTIST37 EVENTS Dental Update 2026 provides the opportunity to engage in a dynamic two day symposium formulated to bring together forward-thinking clinicians for insight, innovation and practical learning across a range of disciplines. is event gives dental practitioners the opportunity to learn directly from some of the profession’s most respected voices, re ne clinical approaches and stay at the forefront of modern dentistry. One of the program session topics, Practical Minimum Intervention Dentistry for Everyday Practice, will be presented by esteemed speaker Professor Vesna Miletic, from the University of Sydney, Faculty of Medicine and Health. In this editorial excerpt, Professor Miletic highlights the key concepts in Minimum Intervention Dentistry, emphasizing that it is not simply a set of techniques, but a comprehensive mindset – one that prioritizes preservation, prevention, and patient-centered care in everyday practice and in discussing the topic indicates that: “Minimum intervention dentistry (MID) is often described in terms of smaller preparations, adhesive materials and conservative restorations. While these are important, they do not capture the full meaning of the concept. At its core, MID is a clinical mindset: detect disease early, Dental Update 2026 Evidence, innovation and Excellence in practice assess risk, control the disease process, preserve tooth structure and intervene operatively only as much as needed. For much of the twentieth century, operative dentistry was shaped by a surgical model, based on amalgam, which required macromechanical retention form. e result was often unnecessary removal of sound tooth structure through box-shaped preparations and the familiar principle of ‘extension for prevention’. In modern practice, this approach has largely been superseded by what we now know about caries, adhesion, remineralisation and long-term tooth preservation. e contemporary clinician must rst ask a di erent set of questions. Is the lesion active or arrested? Is the surface intact or cavitated? What is the patient’s caries risk? Can the lesion be remineralised, sealed, in ltrated or monitored? If operative care is required, how little tooth structure can be removed while still achieving disease control, a reliable seal and a durable restoration? e distinction between non-cavitated and cavitated lesions remains critical. Early enamel demineralisation, where the surface remains intact, o ers genuine opportunities for non-operative or microinvasive management. Fluoride, ssure sealants and resin in ltration, together with plaque bio lm control, dietary counselling, oral hygiene support, careful monitoring and appropriate recall intervals, all support early disease control. MID extends beyond primary caries treatment. e decision to repair rather than replace a restoration can be one of the most tooth-preserving choices a clinician makes. e future of tooth conservation depends on clinicians who can think beyond the drill. MID requires diagnosis, judgement, restraint and long-term planning. It asks us to intervene early when disease can still be controlled, and conservatively when operative care becomes necessary. Most importantly, it reminds us that every millimetre of sound tooth structure preserved today may matter greatly to that patient decades from now.” Professors Richard Logan, Vesna Miletic, Ian Meyers, Bernard Koong. Danielle Layton and Dr David Roberts combine to present this outstanding event, which o ers 16 CPD Hours through a comprehensive and engaging two day program. u For registration or further details visit www.dental-update.com.au contact the Dental Education team on 07 3832 5000 to register your place at Dental Update 2026.
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