Effect of Carisolv solution on sound, demineralized and denatured dentin--an ultrastructural investigation

The purpose of this in vitro study was to analyze the micromorphological changes caused by Carisolv gel on sound, demineralized, and denatured dentin. Fractured dentinal surfaces, dentinal surfaces demineralized superficially by phosphoric acid etching and dentinal surfaces denatured due to lactic acid and collagenase pretreatment were exposed to freshly mixed Carisolv gel or 0.25% sodium hypochlorite. No additional mechanical action was exerted during the 20-min exposure of specimens to the Carisolv solution. Specimens were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy. Electron microscopic evaluation did not indicate any ultrastructural changes of the fractured or demineralized dentinal surfaces due to the 20-min Carisolv treatment. Denatured dentin was partially removed within a 20 min period of chemical action of the Carisolv solution leaving only a 1- to 2-micron thick layer of residual denatured dentin on the specimen's surface. In contrast, 0.25% sodium hypochlorite treatment completely dissolved the demineralized as well as denatured dentin layer within 20 min. It is concluded that Carisolv gel (1) does not affect sound fractured dentin, (2) does not dissolve demineralized dentin, and (3) has a limited potential to chemically dissolve denatured dentin.