title: Influence of application time on penetration of an infiltrant into natural enamel caries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Caries infiltration is an innovative approach to treat medium stages of caries that bridges the gap between preventive and invasive measures, whereby hard tissues are preserved. Special low viscosity resins (infiltrants) showed almost complete penetration into natural lesions when applied for 5 min. Since shorter application times seem to be clinically more feasible, the aim of this in vitro study was to compare the penetration of an infiltrant (Icon pre-product; DMG, Hamburg, Germany) into natural caries lesions after various application times.
  
  
  METHODS
  Extracted permanent human posterior teeth showing non-cavitated proximal caries lesions were infiltrated for either 0.5, 1, 3, or 5 min (n=20) and light-cured. Specimens were prepared and lesion (LD) as well as penetration depths (PD) were analysed using dual fluorescence confocal microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PD [median (Q25;Q75)] at maximum LD after 0.5 min [159 (27;340) μm] and 1 min [152 (69;375) μm] were significantly lower compared to those after 3 min [414 (338, 518) μm] and 5 min [407 (332;616) μm] (p<0.05). Deep lesion parts (PD>500 μm) could be penetrated almost completely after 3 min [98 (88;100)%] and 5 min [100 (81;100)%] application.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thus, 3 min application of an infiltrant seems to be sufficient to achieve an almost complete penetration of enamel caries.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meyer-Lueckel
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chatzidakis
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naumann
authors.forename: Christof E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Dörfer
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paris
mesh_terms: D001641:Bicuspid; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000378:metabolism*; D003745:Dental Enamel Permeability; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008963:Molar; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013997:Time Factors; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids; C020946:triethylene glycol dimethacrylate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols