title: Clinical trial of an air-abrasion/chemomechanical operative procedure for the restorative treatment of dental patients.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate whether caries removal with air-abrasion/Carisolv gel is an acceptable and viable alternative in the treatment of dental patients. Twenty-two patients were treated with conventional methods (local anaesthetic injection/drill) followed by alternative treatment (air-abrasion and Carisolv gel) in a general practice setting, by the same operator. The participants' pre-operative anxiety levels were measured using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale. Their postoperative levels of anxiety/dislike for aspects of both conventional and alternative treatments were assessed using a visual analogue scale. Levels of anxiety/dislike for both treatments were compared and statistically analysed. Results showed 100% of subjects were concerned about several aspects of conventional treatment including pain/discomfort on injection, taste of anaesthetic, length of time tissues remained numb, noise of the drill, its sensory vibrations and water coolant. However, 75% of the study population were happy with all aspects of the air-abrasion technique including dust, pain/discomfort and vibrations produced. Overall, the study population found Carisolv gel to be an acceptable alternative method of caries removal in terms of time taken, pain/discomfort and taste. There were statistically significant differences between patients' perceptions of various aspects of the two treatment methods. All participants found the alternative treatment to be pain-free, quicker and overall more acceptable compared with conventional treatment. The conclusion drawn from the study was that air-abrasion/Carisolv gel treatment was a well-accepted and viable alternative to conventional local anaesthetic injection and drill for dental patients.
authors.affiliation: Wandsworth Primary Care Trust, Guy's, King's and St. Thomas' Dental Institute, KCL, London, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rafique
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fiske
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Banerjee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000145:classification; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000628:therapy; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D019243:Enamel Microabrasion; D005260:Female; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007267:Injections / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology; D007930:Leucine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008239:Lysine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D013649:Taste; D013997:Time Factors; D014732:Vibration / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; C119934:Carisolv; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D007930:Leucine; D008239:Lysine