title: Incomplete caries removal and indirect pulp capping in primary molars: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effect of incomplete caries removal (ICR) and indirect pulp capping (IPC) with calcium hydroxide (CH) or an inert material (wax) on color, consistency and contamination of the remaining dentin of primary molars.
  
  
  METHODS
  This double-blind, parallel-design, randomized controlled trial included 30 children presenting one primary molar with deep caries lesion. Children were randomly assigned after ICR to receive IPC with CH or wax. All teeth were then restored with resin composite. Baseline dentin color and consistency were evaluated after ICR, and dentin samples were collected for contamination analyses using scanning electron microscopy. After 3 months, restorations were removed and the three parameters were re-evaluated. In both groups, dentin became significantly darker after 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No cases of yellow dentin were observed after 3 months with CH compared to 33.3% of the wax cases (P < 0.05). A statistically significant difference over time was observed only for CH regarding consistency. CH stimulated a dentin hardening process in a statistically higher number of cases than wax (86.7% vs. 33.3%; P = 0.008). Contamination changed significantly over time in CH and wax without significant difference between groups. It was concluded that CH and wax arrested the carious process of the remaining carious dentin after indirect pulp capping, but CH showed superior dentin color and consistency after 3 months.
authors.forename: Ana Eliza Lemes
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Bressani
authors.forename: Adriela Azevedo Souza
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Mariath
authors.forename: Alex Nogueira
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Franklin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garcia-Godoy
authors.forename: Fernando Borba
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: de Araujo
mesh_terms: D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003116:Color; D003188:Composite Resins / Q000737:chemistry; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003737:Dental Cavity Preparation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D003785:Dental Pulp Capping / Q000379:methods*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000379:methods; D003804:Dentin / Q000473:pathology; D003809:Dentin, Secondary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008963:Molar / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D057872:Pulp Capping and Pulpectomy Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019279:Resin Cements / Q000737:chemistry; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D014885:Waxes / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D003188:Composite Resins; D003764:Dental Materials; C444701:Filtek Z250; D057872:Pulp Capping and Pulpectomy Agents; D019279:Resin Cements; C084018:Scotchbond Multi-Purpose; D014885:Waxes; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide