Elif Bahar Tuna İnce

Minimally Invasive Strategies for Managing Enamel Defects in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients

Minimally invasive approaches in pediatric and adolescent patients have gained significant attention in recent years, reflecting a growing shift toward more conservative and child-friendly dental treatments. This presentation will explore current trends in minimally invasive strategies, including caries management, preventive techniques, and aesthetic interventions. The adoption of such approaches in pediatric and adolescent dentistry is driven by the aim to preserve tooth structure, reduce discomfort, and enhance the overall patient experience. Recent advances in dental materials, technologies, and treatment protocols will also be discussed, highlighting how these innovations support minimally invasive alternatives to traditional dental procedures.

Prof. Dr. Elif Bahar Tuna İnce
Istanbul University Faculty of Dentistry
Chair, Department of Pediatric Dentistry
Istanbul-Turkey

Prof. Dr. Elif Bahar Tuna İnce graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry at Istanbul University and completed her Ph.D. in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at the same institution in 2006. As part of her doctoral studies, she conducted research as a visiting scholar at Indiana University, USA. Between 2008 and 2010, she carried out research at the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Nihon University School of Dentistry in Tokyo, Japan, supported by the TÜBİTAK International Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program. During this period, she also served as a research fellow at the National Institute of Health, Japan. She was appointed as an Associate Professor in 2012 and was promoted to Professor in 2018. She continues to serve as a faculty member in the same department. In addition, she earned a Master's degree in Orthodontics from Yeni Yüzyıl University in 2021. Prof. Dr. Tuna has authored over 200 national and international publications, holds 5 registered patents, and has contributed as an author to 3 book chapters. Her scientific interests include early orthodontic interventions, minimally invasive treatment approaches, and dental anxiety. She currently serves as the treasurer of the Turkish Society of Pediatric Dentistry and is a committee member of the International Association of Pediatric Dentistry (IAPD).