Strategies for Restoration of Compromised First Permanent Molars in Children: Challenges and Optimal Timing

Purpose: To evaluate restorative strategies for compromised first permanent molars in pediatric patients, with emphasis on determining the optimal timing for intervention.
Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across four electronic databases: PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Web of Science. Among the 127 retrieved articles, 42 studies that met the predefined inclusion criteria were incorporated into the analysis.
Results: Restoration of compromised first permanent molars can be accomplished through both direct and indirect techniques. Standardized protocols for the management of severely compromised first permanent molars are still lacking.
Conclusions: The principal determinants guiding treatment encompass patient cooperation, defect severity, dental developmental stage, pulp status and passive eruption. Clinical Relevance: High-quality research is required to establish evidence-based guidelines for the restoration of compromised molars in the pediatric population. Keywords: first permanent molar, pediatric dentistry, time factor, tooth restoration