Evaluation of tooth surface after chemomechanical treatment with Papacárie®

Objective: In vitro evaluation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and microhardness measurements of dentin surfaces after caries removal with papain gel. Design: A controlled experimental study. Setting: Nove de Julho University (UNINOVE), Brazil, 2006. Materials and methods: In order to perform the microhardness tests, 9 deciduous teeth were divided into 3 groups for caries treatment: G1, rotary instrument; G2, papain based gel and blunt curette; and G3, papain based gel and Papacárie® curette. For SEM examination, 12 deciduous teeth were divided into three treatment groups: H1, papain based gel; H2, Carisolv™; and H3, rotary instrument. Results: Microhardness test results show a significantly higher mean Knoop Hardness Number (KHN) for G1 than for G2 and G3, although the microhardness levels were satisfactory for G2 and G3. SEM examination revealed that the dentin pattern observed in specimens from both H1 and H2 were similar, showing the presence of exposed dentinal tubules, absence of smear layer, and preservation of tooth structure, in contrast to those from H3. Conclusion: Chemomechanical caries removal with Papacárie® allows preservation of tooth structure, and the residual dentin exhibits satisfactory levels of microhardness similar to those reported in the literature.