There are several methods for identifying carious dentinal tissue aiming to avoid removal of healthy dentinal tissue. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to test different methods for the detection of carious dentinal tissue regarding the amount of carious tissue removed and the remaining dentin microhardness after caries removal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The dentin surfaces of 20 bovine teeth were exposed and half of the surface was protected with nail polish. Cariogenic challenge was performed by immersion in a demineralizing solution for 14 days. After transverse cross-section of the crown, the specimens were divided into four groups (n=10), according to the method used to identify and remove the carious tissue: "Papacárie", Caries-detector dye, DIAGNOdent and Tactile method. After caries removal, the cross-sectional surface was included in acrylic resin and polished. In a microhardness tester, the removed dentin thickness and the Vickers microhardness of the following regions were evaluated: remaining dentin after caries removal and superficial and deep healthy dentin. RESULTS: ANOVA and Tukey's test (α=0.05) were performed, except for DIAGNOdent, which did not detect the presence of caries. Results for removed dentin thickness were: "Papacárie" (424.7±105.0; a), Caries-detector dye (370.5±78.3; ab), Tactile method (322.8±51.5; bc). Results for the remaining dentin microhardness were: "Papacárie" (42.2±10.5; bc), Caries-detector dye (44.6±11.8; abc), Tactile method (24.3±9.0; d). CONCLUSIONS: DIAGNOdent did not detect the presence of carious tissue; Tactile method and "Papacárie" resulted in the least and the most dentinal thickness removal, respectively; Tactile method differed significantly from "Papacárie" and Caries-detector dye in terms of the remaining dentin microhardness, and Tactile method was the one which presented the lowest microhardness values.

O presente estudo avaliou a alteração dimensional e solubilidade de 2 cimentos experimentais (à base de resina do óleo de Copaíba - Biosealer e cimento do polímero da mamona - Poliquil), mantidos em diferentes meios de armazenamento. Foram confeccionados 20 espécimes de cada cimento com 3 mm de diâmetro e 2 mm de altura os quais foram divididos em 2 grupos (n=10) de acordo com o meio de armazenamento (fluido tissular simulado ou água destilada). Os espécimes foram atidos nas soluções durante 90 dias, sendo removidos a cada 30 dias para pesagem das amostras, no entanto as soluções foram trocadas a cada 15 dias. Os resultados foram submetidos aos testes de Dunn (5%) e Mann-Whitney. Os meios de armazenamento causaram influência no comportamento dos cimentos em relação ao peso (p=0,0001). Poliquil apresentou alta variação de peso independente da solução (p=0,239). Biosealer também apresentou alta variação de peso independente da solução (p=0,0001). A solubilidade do Biosealer foi diferente do Poliquil, entretanto, ambos cimentos mostraram baixa solubilidade no fluido tissular simulado. Nas condições do experimento, nenhum cimento está de acordo com a especificação da ADA.

This study evaluated the dimensional alterations and the solubility of two experimental endodontic sealers based on Copaifera multijuga oil-resin (Biosealer) and castor oil bean cement (Poliquil), maintained in different storage solutions. Twenty specimens (3 mm diameter and 2 mm height) of each sealer were assigned to 2 groups (n=10) according to the storage solution: simulated tissue fluid (STF) or distilled water (DW). The specimens were stored in these solutions during 90 days, being removed every 30 days for weighting. The solutions were renewed every 15 days. The results were subjected to statistical analysis by Dunn's and Mann-Whitney tests (a=0.05). The solubility of Poliquil was higher in STF (38.4 ± 36.0) than in DW (28.4 ± 15.0), while Biosealer showed higher solubility in DW (34.61 ± 6.0) than in STF (18.59 ± 8.0). The storage solution influenced the behavior of sealers in relation to the weight variation (p=0.0001). Poliquil presented higher variation of weight independent of the solution (p=0.239). Biosealer also presented higher variation of weight regardless of the solution (p=0.0001). The solubility of Biosealer was different from that of Poliquil, but both sealers showed low solubility in STF. Under the tested conditions, neither of the materials were according to the ADA'S specification.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the exposure of different endodontic materials to different dye solutions by evaluating the optical density of the dye solutions. Seventy-five plastic tubes were filled with one of the following materials: AH Plus, Sealapex, Portland cement, MTA (Angelus and Pro Root) and fifteen control plastic tubes were not. Each specimen of material and control was immersed in a container with 1 ml of each dye solution. A 0.1 ml-dye solution aliquote was removed before immersion and after 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours of each specimen immersion to record its optical density (OD) in a spectrophotometer. Statistical analysis was performed with ANOVA and Tukey tests (5%). No significant difference was found among any of the solution OD values for AH Plus cement. Portland cement promoted different OD values after 12 hours of immersion. MTA-Angelus cement presented different OD values only for 2% rhodamine B and the MTA-Pro Root cement presented different OD values in all 2% rhodamine B samples. Sealapex cement promoted a reduction in the India Ink OD values. Dye evaluation through OD seems to be an interesting method to select the best dye solution to use in a given marginal leakage study.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o selamento de ápices radiculares tratados com diferentes agentes desmineralizantes e retrobturados com agregado de trióxido mineral (MTA), mediante infiltração marginal por corante. Cinqüenta e seis dentes unirradiculares humanos extraídos foram instrumentados, obturados e seccionados apicalmente. Os preparos cavitários apicais foram confeccionados com pontas ultra-sônicas e os agentes desmineralizantes foram aplicados previamente à retrobturação com Pro Root MTA. Os espécimes foram divididos aleatoriamente em 4 grupos (n=14): grupo 1 (sem agente desmineralizante); grupo 2 (ácido fosfórico 35% durante 15 s); grupo 3 (solução de EDTA 17%, pH 7, durante 3 min); grupo 4 (gel de EDTA 24%, pH 7, durante 4 min). A extensão da infiltração de corante (rodamina B 2% a 37°C, por 24 h) foi avaliada em milímetros utilizando-se um estereomicroscópio. Os resultados foram analisados estatisticamente por meio de análise de variância a um critério e do teste Tukey com nível de significância de 5%. Dentre os grupos experimentais, a menor extensão de infiltração do corante foi verificada no grupo 1 (1,89 mm), seguido pelos grupos 2 (2,18 mm), 4 (2,54 mm) e 3 (2,64 mm). Não houve diferenças estatisticamente significante (p>0.05) na infiltração marginal pelo corante entre os grupos 1, 2 e 4 e os grupos 2, 3 e 4. Com base nos resultados obtidos, pode-se concluir que a aplicação de agentes desmineralizantes não pode ser recomendada quando da utilização do MTA em cirurgias parendodônticas.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the apical seal in root apex treated with different demineralization agents and retrofilled with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) using marginal dye leakage. Fifty-six, human single-rooted teeth were instrumented, filled, resected and had retrofilling cavities prepared with ultrasonic tips. Demineralizing agents were applied before the apical cavities were retrofilled with Pro Root MTA. The specimens were assigned to 4 groups (n=14), as follows: group 1 (no demineralizing agent); group 2 (35% phosphoric acid, for 15 s); group 3 (17% EDTA solution, pH 7, for 3 min); and group 4 (24% EDTA gel, pH 7, for 4 min). The extension of dye (2% rhodamine B, at 37°C, for 24 h) penetration was measured in millimeters using a stereomicroscope. Results were statistically analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey's test at 5% significance level. Among the experimental groups, the least extension of dye penetration was observed in group 1 (1.89 mm), followed by groups 2 (2.18 mm), 4 (2.54 mm) and 3 (2.64 mm). No statistically significant differences (p<0.05) were found in marginal microleakage among groups 1, 2 and 4 and groups 2, 3 and 4. Based on the results obtained in this study, it may be concluded that the application of demineralizing agents cannot be recommended when MTA is used in periradicular surgeries.