title: Dentin microhardness of primary teeth undergoing partial carious removal.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the dentin microhardness of primary teeth undergoing indirect pulp capping (IPC) after partial caries removal.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary molars were treated with IPC, restored with self-etching primer (Clearfil SE Bond; CSE), and filled with composite resin (Filtek Z250) with (n = 10) or without (n = 7) a calcium hydroxide base liner (Dycal; Dy). After tooth exfoliation, the microhardness of the demineralized dentin remaining under the restoration (n = 17) was analyzed and compared with that of sound and carious primary dentin (n = 20). Microhardness measurements were obtained from the deepest portion of the cavity until the roof of the pulp chamber. Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test (p < 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference in microhardness values at all depths between the treated groups (DY and CSE), but when the exfoliated carious teeth were included, the CSE had significantly higher values at 35-microm depth. This difference was only detected in the DY group after a depth of 200 microm. At 700 microm, there was no difference in microhardness values between all 4 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary teeth that underwent IPC showed the same microhardness, regardless of the capping material used.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Franciscan University Center, Santa Maria, Brazil.
authors.forename: Débora Martini
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Dalpian
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Casagrande
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Franzon
authors.forename: Giovana Martins Cezar
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Dutra
authors.forename: Fernando Borba
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: de Araujo
mesh_terms: D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003736:Dental Cavity Lining / Q000379:methods; D003785:Dental Pulp Capping / Q000379:methods; D003789:Dental Pulp Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000379:methods; D003804:Dentin / Q000473:pathology*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006244:Hardness; D006801:Humans; D008903:Minerals / Q000627:therapeutic use; D057872:Pulp Capping and Pulpectomy Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019279:Resin Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014089:Tooth Remineralization; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: C438313:Clearfil SE Bond; D003188:Composite Resins; C444701:Filtek Z250; D008903:Minerals; D057872:Pulp Capping and Pulpectomy Agents; D019279:Resin Cements; C025702:Dycal; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide