Chemomechanical caries removal in children: an operator's and pediatric patients' responses.
BACKGROUND
This study investigated an operator's and pediatric patients' responses to chemo-mechanical caries removal (CMCR) versus the traditional method (TM) of caries removal using a handpiece and a round bur when treating dentinal-depth occlusal lesions with minimal enamel access in primary molars.


METHODS
Data were collected from 50 children at baseline and before, during and after caries removal using CMCR or TM. The subjects in the CMCR group were on average younger than the subjects in the TM group and had more deep lesions.


RESULTS
The operator rated CMCR as needing more clinical and technical effort and more total effort than TM. He was less satisfied with CMCR than with TM. Subjects in the CMCR group perceived the time needed for treatment as significantly longer than did the subjects in the TM group. Fear of the dentist decreased in subjects in the TM group from before to after the operative appointment, while it increased in subjects in the CMCR group.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors found no direct advantage in using CMCR over using TM.


CONCLUSIONS
CMCR cannot be recommended as an alternative to TM when treating dentinal depth occlusal lesions with minimal access in primary molars.
Inglehart
Marita R
MR
Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine, School of Dentistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1078, USA. mri@umich.edu
Peters
Mathilde C
MC
Flamenbaum
Michael H
MH
Eboda
Nnenna N
NN
Feigal
Robert J
RJ
D000367:Age Factors; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D016854:Dental Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000628:therapy*; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology; D003804:Dentin / Q000473:pathology; D003812:Dentist-Patient Relations; D003815:Dentists / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology; D010146:Pain / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000473:pathology