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Incomplete caries removal: a systematic review and meta-analysis
F Schwendicke1, C E Dörfer, S Paris
1Department for Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, Christian-Albrechts-University, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, 24105 Kiel, Germany. schwendicke@konspar.uni-kiel.de
Journal of Dental Research
|February 12, 2013
Summary
Incomplete caries removal, especially for deep cavities, reduces the risk of pulpal exposure and symptoms. However, more high-quality research is needed to confirm these benefits for dental treatments.
Area of Science:
- Dentistry
- Dental Public Health
- Restorative Dentistry
Background:
- Clinical trials increasingly support incomplete caries removal for deep caries.
- This approach aims to preserve pulp vitality and reduce treatment invasiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review randomized controlled trials comparing incomplete versus complete caries removal.
- To evaluate the impact on pulpal exposure, symptoms, failure rates, and caries progression.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
- Included studies focused on primary and permanent teeth with primary caries lesions.
- Data analyzed from 1967 to 2012, including 10 studies with 1,257 patients.
Main Results:
- Incomplete caries removal significantly reduced the risk of pulpal exposure (OR 0.31 [0.19-0.49]) and pulpal symptoms (OR 0.58 [0.31-1.10]).
- Failure rates appeared similar between complete and incomplete removal, but data were inconclusive (OR 0.97 [0.64-1.46]).
Conclusions:
- Incomplete caries removal shows advantages over complete removal, particularly for deep caries near the pulp.
- Current evidence is limited by a high risk of bias, necessitating further high-quality studies for definitive conclusions.
