Pronase digestion of carious dentin

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Dental Materials Science
• Enzymology

Background:

• Caries removal often necessitates mechanical excavation, potentially damaging healthy tooth structure.
• Enzymatic debridement offers a potential alternative for selective removal of carious dentin.
• Understanding the efficacy of different agents is crucial for developing minimally invasive dental treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the individual capabilities of Pronase, collagenase, and sodium hypochlorite in disintegrating and solubilizing carious dentin.
• To compare the effectiveness of these agents in removing organic matrix components from carious dentin.
• To assess the potential of chemical disintegration to reduce the need for mechanical removal of sound dentin.

Main Methods:

• Carious and sound dentin samples were sequentially extracted with buffered solutions of Pronase, collagenase, or sodium hypochlorite.
• Extracts and residues were analyzed for nitrogen content using a modified Berthelot color reaction after digestion.
• Nitrogen content served as a measure of organic matrix solubilization and disintegration.

Main Results:

• Pronase solubilized over 90% of the nitrogen in carious dentin, with no effect on sound dentin.
• Collagenase solubilized approximately 66% of the nitrogen in carious dentin.
• Sodium hypochlorite demonstrated limited efficacy, releasing only 12-20% of the nitrogen from carious dentin.

Conclusions:

• Pronase exhibits high specificity and efficacy in the enzymatic disintegration of carious dentin.
• Enzymatic debridement using Pronase presents a promising minimally invasive approach for caries removal.
• Chemical disintegration of carious dentin could significantly reduce the reliance on mechanical instrumentation in restorative dentistry.