Which statement about ART is true?

Study for the Pediatric Dentistry II Exam. Utilize flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations. Prepare thoroughly for your exam!

ART focuses on a gentle, tooth-preserving approach that uses hand instruments to remove soft decayed tissue and then restores with high-viscosity glass ionomer cement. This method avoids the need for drilling and anesthesia in many cases, making it especially useful for young children, anxious patients, or settings with limited equipment. The glass ionomer cement chosen is suited for ART because it chemically bonds to dentin and releases fluoride, helping protect the restored tooth and reduce future decay. Because of these features, the statement describing ART as using hand instruments to remove decay and restoring with high-viscosity glass ionomer cement is the correct one. ART is not defined by expensive equipment, it is applicable to primary teeth, and it is a restorative approach rather than an extraction-only technique.