Efficacy of Chemo-Mechanical Caries Removal with Carisolv

Objective: To determine the efficacy of chemo-mechanical caries removal using Carisolv and compare it to the conventional method of caries removal. Design: A quasi-experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: The Department of Operative Dentistry, Fatima Jinnah Dental College Hospital, Karachi, from October 2003 to March 2004. Patients and Methods: Thirty patients with contralateral cariously involved mandibular molars participated in the study. Patients were selected using convenience sampling. One side of each patient was randomly selected for treatment with either Carisolv or the conventional method. In the study group, carious lesion was removed with Carisolv instruments, whereas in control group excavators and round steel burs were used. Single observer assessed all the treated lesions. Time required to remove caries and completeness of caries removal was observed for both techniques. Data was compared using 'Fisher's exact test' and 'Independent samples t-test'. Results: Time taken to remove caries using Carisolv was 12.19 (SD 3.7) minutes, whereas time taken to remove caries by conventional method was 7.4 (SD 3.21) minutes. The difference was statistically significant (p-value < 0.005). Caries could not be removed in 3 teeth in the study group with Carisolv. Complete caries removal was, however, achieved in the control group. The difference was statistically insignificant (p-value > 0.005). Conclusion: Chemo-mechanical caries removal with Carisolv is as effective as conventional methods in removing dental caries, however, it is significantly more time-consuming.