Moreover, 10 temporary teeth with active dentinal caries were hemisectioned longitudinally, to expose the center of carious lesion. On the vestibular segments (n=8) Papacarie® was applied for 1 minute; lingual segments were used as controls (saline). As a positive control, vestibular and lingual segments (n=4) were treated with 5% sodium hypochlorite for 1 minute. All specimens were demineralized and processed for histological technique. 6 μm thick sections were obtained and immunostained for collagen type I using the biotin-streptavidin-peroxidase system.
Proteolytic activity produced by Papacarie® was not detected in the zimograhic assay in any studied time. These findings were supported by the immunohistochemical approach, since in the exposed surface no loss of immunoreaction was detected. In positive controls a clear loss of inmunoreactivity was detected in the treated surface.
We concluded that the clinical effect of Papacarie® is not due to proteolisis of the matrix collagen cavities.