Assessment of the chemomechanical caries removing efficacy -microtomographic study -

Abstract

Chemomechanical approach to caries removal was introduced in order to preserve the maximum amount of sound tooth structure. The efficacy of chemomechanical caries removal was assessed using microcomputed tomography which offers 3 dimensional data without destroying the tooth, and the V works program. In group 1, the density values of the sound dentin, carious dentin, and remaining dentin after chemomechanical treatment were analyzed. In group 2, the density values of the sound dentin, cavity wall prepared using high speed bur, and the remaining dentin after additional gel application on the same cavity were analyzed. The results were as follows; 1. The density value of the remaining dentin after the treatment was 81.8% of the sound dentin(p < 0.001). 2. The density value of the remaining dentin after the conventional rotary instrument showed no statistically significant difference from that of the sound dentin(p = 0.234).