Evaluation of Dentin-Pulp Complex Response after Conservative Clinical Procedures in Primary Teeth

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Dentistry
• Caries Management
• Dentin-Pulp Complex Biology

Background:

• Selective caries removal reduces bacterial load and pulp exposure risk.
• Limited clinical research exists on minimally invasive caries removal techniques.
• Further investigation is needed to compare partial vs. total caries removal outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the in vivo dentin-pulp complex response in deciduous teeth after partial or total caries removal.
• To compare clinical and radiographic outcomes of two caries removal strategies in primary teeth.

Main Methods:

• 49 deciduous molars from children aged 5-9 years were divided into partial (Group I) and total (Group II) caries removal groups.
• Clinical and radiographic assessments were conducted 4-6 months post-procedure.
• Statistical analysis included Kappa test for reproducibility and Fisher's exact test for group differences.

Main Results:

• All teeth demonstrated clinical success throughout the 4-6 month follow-up period.
• Radiographic success rates were 94.2% for partial removal and 89.6% for total removal.
• No statistically significant difference in radiographic outcomes was observed between the groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Partial caries removal (PCR) yielded satisfactory clinical and radiographic results in primary teeth.
• PCR is a promising minimally invasive alternative to total caries removal (TCR) when indicated.
• This approach supports conservative management of dental caries in pediatric patients.