title: Pain during Removal of Carious Lesions in Children: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.
abstract: The aim of the present study was to assess pain and the need for anesthesia during chemomechanical caries removal with Papacarie gel and the traditional method (low-speed bur) in pediatric patients. A randomized, controlled, clinical trial with a "split-mouth" design was carried out involving 20 children (10 girls and 10 boys) aged four to seven years. Forty primary teeth (two per child) were randomly allocated to either Group 1 (G1: chemomechanical caries removal with Papacarie gel) or Group 2 (G2: removal of carious dentin with low-speed bur). A face scale was used to classify the sensation of pain during the procedure (1: absence of pain; 2: mild pain; 3: moderate pain; 4: moderately intense pain; 5: intense pain; and 6: extremely intense pain). Statistical analysis of the data was performed using the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney (U) test. Pain scores were higher in G2, with statistically significant differences in comparison to G1 (U = 148.0; W = 358.0; P = 0.041). Chemomechanical caries removal with Papacarie provides a lesser degree of pain in comparison to conventional caries removal and does not require the use of local anesthesia. The clinical trial registration number is NCT01811420.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Dentistry, University Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lara Jansiski
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Motta
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Sciences Post Graduation Program, University Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), Rua Vergueiro, 235/249, Liberdade, 01504-001 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sandra Kalil
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bussadori
authors.affiliation: Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Campanelli
authors.affiliation: Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: André Luis
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Dental Clinic Post Graduation Program, University Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thays Almeida
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Alfaya
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Sciences Post Graduation Program, University Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), Rua Vergueiro, 235/249, Liberdade, 01504-001 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Camila Haddad Leal
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: de Godoy
authors.affiliation: Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Fidela de Lima
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Navarro