Method: 108 molars from 9 Wistar rats were inoculated with S. mutans, and reinoculated 24 hours later. During 12 weeks the animals were fed with rat chow and 15% sucrose solution at libitum. Once the induction period was completed the animals were examined using the ICDAS criteria. The final sample was comprised for all carious molars codes 2 to 6 according ICDAS criteria. The molars were intentionally distributed according the lesion severity in four groups, control (C1, C2) and experimental (E1, E2). Subsequently, the infected dentin was removed from cavitated lesions in both groups. Groups E1 and E2 received in non-cavitated and cavitated lesions 3.8% SDF application, washed out with distilled water and sterile swab. Control groups were treated similarly but did not receive the SDF. The sucrose consumption was substitute by water at this moment.The animals were sacrificed at 7 and 13 weeks using Halothane® inhaled and the molars evaluated.
Result: After caries induction, 42 out of 108 surfaces were carious with varying degrees of severity according to ICDAS criteria, which represent 38.9% of the total surfaces. At week seven, a significant number of lesions progressed (p= 0.000) in group C1 and softened dentine in the cavitated lesions was observed. In group E1 lesions progression was not detected and the consistency of the dentin in the cavitated lesions was hard and brownish. Similarly, at the week thirteen significant number of lesions progressed in the group C2 (p=0.003) and soft dentine was seen, in contrast in group E2 the lesions did not progressed and soft dentine was not observed.
Conclusion: It was demonstrated that the treatment with 3.8% FDP was effective to stopped caries progression in our experimental conditions.