Penetration of experimental infiltrants with different penetration coefficients and ethanol addition into natural caries lesions in primary molars

Abstract

This study evaluated the influence of the penetration coefficient (PC) and ethanol addition on the penetration depth (PD) of experimental infiltrants into proximal caries lesions in primary molars. Caries lesions (n = 45) were randomly treated with 1 of 4 experimental infiltrants (PC63; PC185; PC204; PC391) for 5 min. Lesion depths and PDs were analysed using dual fluorescence confocal microscopy. Lesions were almost completely infiltrated in all groups. Median PDs and percentage penetrations were not significantly different between groups (p > 0.05). When applied for 5 min, all tested infiltrants were able to infiltrate proximal caries in primary molars nearly completely.