A STUDY OF PERFORMANCE AND EFFICACY OF PAPAIN BASED GEL AND POLYMER BUR IN CARIES REMOVAL FROM PRIMARY TEETH

Abstract

In pediatric dentistry, tracing for a more comfortable and suitable method for caries excavation is of great importance. Studies on dental anxiety have revealed that injection and drill were reported to be the most highly stressful factors in producing pain during dental treatment.35 Hence, a painless technique is one of the keys to reassure dentally fearful children, simplify the management with the uncooperative patients, and a skill every pediatric dentist should strive to master.140 Subsequently, this study aimed to assess the efficacy of Papain based gel and Polymer bur in caries removal from primary teeth. This comparison was based on detecting of residual bacteria in dentin after removal of caries, assessing the effect on surface characteristics of prepared cavity, as well as, estimation of the speed of caries removal and perceived level of dental anxiety among the treated children. The current study involved in-vivo and in-vitro parts. In the in-vivo part, twenty children were recruited from the outpatient clinic of Pediatric Dentistry and Dental Public health Department, Faculty of Dentistry, Ain Shams University. The children’s age range was from 5 to 8 years with at least two primary occlusal carious lesions involving dentin only not extending to the pulp. First dental visit was performed, bitewing and periapical radiographs were taken as well, followed with the treatment of at least one of the carious lesions with the conventional carbide bur for each patient. The other carious lesions were treated with Papacarié duo and/or smart bur II in the following visit. Clinical evaluation was performed estimating the time required for complete caries removal using a stop watch. Moreover, the children’s level of anxiety using The FIS was recorded.