Carisolv: a multicentric prospective study prior to commercialisation on french market

Rotary instrument have become progressively efficient in removing caries but even if this technique is the faster one it is the most invasive one. Recently, Carisolv, a chemo-mechanical gel system has been proposed and appeared to be an effective method. Objectives: Prior to commercialisation in our country, we wanted to assess the efficiency and the interest of this product as well in public Odontology departments than in private offices, in accordance with the new concepts of caries management. Methods: The study was performed at 8 public departments and at 4 private offices by 12 investigators. 96 informed patients presenting at least one active caries were included and treated with Carisolv. Results: Whatever the size of the cavity, 60% of the cases did not require anaesthesia. 9.18 ±5.7minutes (mean±SD) were necessary to perform caries removal for small cavities, 7.58 ±6.6 minutes for medium cavities and 17.36 ±13 minutes for large cavities. 82.5% of the clinicians and 99.2% of the patients were satisfied. For the patients treated without anaesthesia, 60.8% did not feel any pain and 39.2% found the pain acceptable and we evidenced a significant correlation between absence of anaesthesia and absence of pain (p<0.01). No adverse effects had been observed during the treatment or during the 6 following months. Conclusions: We conclude that Carisolv is a caries removal method in accordance to the new concepts of caries management preserving sound tissues and well accepted by the patients. Even if most of the clinicians were satisfied by the efficacy of the method, the operating time required for caries removal is prolonged and this method appears to be indicated for special cases such as anxious patients, deep lesions or free access lesions.