Chemo-mechanical caries removal with Papacarie: case series with 84 reports and 12 months of follow-up.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to determine the success rate after 12 months of follow-up in a series of cases in which chemo-mechanical caries removal (CMCR) was performed with Papacarie(TM), followed by restoration with glass ionomer cement. BACKGROUND: The development of conservative techniques for carious tissue removal and improvements in dental restoration materials have allowed better preservation of dental structures in the treatment of decayed teeth. Chemo-mechanical caries removal (CMCR) is a conservative atraumatic treatment option. Papacarie(TM) is a papain-based material developed to act only on the carious dentin, allowing its easy removal with a blunt curette. CASE REPORT: The study involved a total of 84 deciduous posterior teeth with occlusal dentinal caries. Only teeth without risk of pulp exposure were studied. After a period of 12 months, the restorations were evaluated based on criteria employed in previous studies. The radiographic evaluation revealed resorption and calcification of the affected teeth. The data were submitted to descriptive statistical analysis with the aid of the XLSTAT program. The success rate was 88.1% and 98.8% based on the clinical and radiographic evaluations, respectively. The difference between the success and failure rates was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Papacarie(TM) is an effective product for CMCR on occlusal dentinal tissue in deciduous teeth, demonstrating a high clinical and radiographic success rate after 12 months of follow-up.