Chemomechanical versus drilling methods for caries removal: an in vitro study

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Dental Materials Science
• Caries Management

Background:

• Conventional drilling is standard for caries removal.
• Chemomechanical caries removal (CMCR) offers an alternative approach.
• Evaluating CMCR's clinical performance is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• Compare CMCR with conventional drilling for caries removal efficacy.
• Assess time, dentin changes, and restoration microleakage.
• Investigate CMCR's impact on dentin microhardness and surface morphology.

Main Methods:

• 46 carious deciduous molars were divided into CMCR and drilling groups.
• Caries removal completeness assessed visually, tactilely, and with a caries detector.
• Restored teeth underwent thermocycling, microleakage, microhardness, polarized light microscopy, and SEM analysis.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in caries removal completeness between CMCR and drilling.
• CMCR required significantly more time than drilling.
• CMCR cavities showed significantly higher microleakage and lower dentin microhardness.
• SEM revealed roughened dentin surfaces after CMCR.

Conclusions:

• CMCR is as effective as drilling for caries removal completeness.
• CMCR demands longer chair time and results in compromised dentin properties.
• CMCR may lead to increased restoration microleakage, necessitating further research on its long-term clinical performance.