Abstract
the purpose of this study was to compare the Vickers hardness of sound dentin after carious tissue removal using the chemo–mechanical method and the conventional rotary method. Materials and Methods: The carious dentin of thirty extracted human primary lower second molars was removed using Carisolv™ and conventional rotary methods. The Vickers hardness number (VHN) of the cavity floor was determined and the adjacent sound dentin of each tooth was used as a control reference. Results: The results indicated no statistical difference in the microhardness of the dentin in the cavity floor after treatment with Carisolv™ gel and conventional rotary method and no statistical difference in the microhardness of the dentin of both types of caries removal compared with the adjacent control areas. Conclusions: The Carisolv™ gel does not cause a significant change in the microhardness of dentin that remains after being submitted to carious tissue removal.
