RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to compare the efficacy of chemomechanical caries removal (Carisolv) to conventional hand excavation in deciduous teeth. METHODS: Twenty-two freshly extracted teeth with varying degree of caries were treated using both of these methods. One part of each caries lesion was prepared using the Carisolv method and the other part using conventional hand excavation. The third (middle) part was left untreated to serve as control. Histological preparations of each tooth were then made and examined in order to compare the quality of the preparations. Length and area of residual caries, microhardness of the dentine in each group and time needed for preparation were analysed. RESULTS: The results showed that there was no significant difference in the amount of residual caries in the cavity walls treated using the two methods. CONCLUSIONS: The Carisolv method was significantly more time consuming than conventional preparation using hand excavator. However, both methods removed caries efficiently.
