Since the introduction of the Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) approach over twenty years ago, more than 190 research publications have appeared. The last research agenda defining research priorities for ART was published in 1999. The objective of the present work was to review existing research in the context of future research priorities for ART. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An internet survey was conducted amongst those who had published on ART or were known to be working on the ART approach, to solicit their views as to areas of future ART research. Three broad categories were defined, namely: 1. Basic and laboratory research; 2. Clinical research, and, 3. Community, Public Health, Health Services Research. RESULTS: A 31% response rate was achieved. The study identified a number of new areas of research as well as areas where additional research is required. These are expressed as recommendations for future ART research. CONCLUSIONS: The ART approach is based on a robust, reliable and ever-growing evidence base concerning its clinical applications which indicates that it is a reliable and quality treatment approach. In common with all other oral health care procedures, targeted applied research is required to improve the oral health care offered.

O emprego do Tratamento Restaurador Atraumático (TRA) durante a primeira infância pode representar uma escolha terapêutica menos traumática e menos dispendiosa. Esta pesquisa propõe investigar a percepção das mães sobre o TRA no processo saúde/doença bucal de seus filhos portadores de Cárie Precoce da infância (ECC), e avaliar o comportamento clínico destas restaurações, após períodos de seis, doze e vinte e quatro meses.

The accomplishment of the Atraumatic Restorative Treatment (ART) approach during the early childhood may represent a remarkably less traumatic and less expensive therapeutic choice. The purpose of this study is to investigate the mothers' perceptions about the ART technique in the oral health/disease process of their children diagnosed with Early Childhood Caries (ECC), and to evaluate the clinical performance of the atraumatic restorations placed in these children at six-, twelve- and twenty-four-month intervals.