Chemomechanical caries removal in children - An operator's and pediatric patients' responses

Background: This study investigated an operator's and pediatric patients' responses to chemo-mechanical caries removal (CMCR) versus the traditional method (TM) of caries removal using a handpiece and a round bur when treating dentinal-depth occlusal lesions with minimal enamel access in primary molars. Methods. Data were collected from 50 children as baseline and before, during after caries removal using CMCR or TM. The subjects in the CMCR group were on average younger than the subjects in the TM group and had more deep lesions. Results. The operator rated CMCR as needing more clinical and technical effort and more total effort than TM. He was less satisfied with CMCR than TM. Subjects in the CMCR group perceived the time needed for treatment as significantly longer than did the subjects in the TM group. Fear of the dentist decreased in the TM group from before to after the operative appointment, while it increased in subjects in the CMCR group. Conclusions. The authors found no direct advantage in using CMCR over using TM.