title: Penetration depths of an infiltrant into proximal caries lesions in primary molars after different application times in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Caries infiltration aims to inhibit lesion progression, by occluding the porosities within the lesion body with low-viscosity resins. The ability in hampering lesion progression is correlated with the penetration depth (PD) of the infiltrant.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to compare the infiltration depths into proximal lesions in primary molars after different application times.
  
  
  METHODS
  Noncavitated natural caries lesions (n = 83) were etched with 15% HCl for 2 min and infiltrated for 0.5, 1, 3, or 5 min. Specimens were sectioned and PD at the maximum lesion depth (LD(max)) were analysed using dual fluorescence confocal microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Percentage penetrations (PD/LD(max)) were significantly higher after 3 or 5 min compared with 0.5-min application (P < 0.05; Mann-Whitney test). For LD(max) <400 μm, no significant differences were observed between application times (P > 0.05). For LD(max) ≥400 μm, 3- and 5-min application resulted in significantly deeper infiltration compared with 0.5 min (P < 0.05). After 1-min application, PD was significantly lower than 5 min (P < 0.05), PD/LD(max) did not differ from all other groups (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Natural noncavitated proximal lesions in primary molars were deeply infiltrated after 1-min application in vitro. For deeper lesions, however, more consistent results were obtained after 3 min.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Conservative Dentistry and Periodontology, School of Dental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paris
authors.forename: Vera Mendes
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Soviero
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seddig
authors.forename: Hendrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meyer-Lueckel
mesh_terms: D003188:Composite Resins / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000628:therapy*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003745:Dental Enamel Permeability; D018772:Dental Marginal Adaptation; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008963:Molar; D012117:Resins, Synthetic; D013997:Time Factors; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D012117:Resins, Synthetic; C578177:icon infiltrant