Efficacy evaluation of pepsin enzyme-based gel in chemo-mechanical caries removal on primary anterior teeth: a randomized controlled clinical study; [Avaliação da eficácia do gel à base de enzima pepsina na remoção químico-mecânica da cárie em dentes anteriores decíduos: um estudo clínico controlado randomizado]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a new pepsin enzyme-based gel compared with Carisolv as a CMCR agent. Clinical and radiographical evaluations of recurrent caries were made 3 and 6 months after treatment. Material and Methods: A split-mouth designed randomized controlled clinical study was carried out on 40 primary anterior teeth of children aged between 4-7 years. Pepsin enzyme-based gel and Carisolv solution were applied to carious lesions until complete removal of caries. The efficacy of both agents was evaluated by the number of application times to remove all caries. Recurrent caries were evaluated clinically and radiographically after 3 and 6 months of treatment. Results: Results showed no statistically significant differences in the efficacy of caries removal by the number of application times (P = 0.919). Concerning recurrent caries, clinical and radiographical evaluation after three and six months showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups (P = 0.574, P = 0.547, respectively). Conclusion: Pepsin enzyme-based gel can be considered similar to Carisolv gel regarding its efficacy as a CMCR agent for small carious lesions on primary anterior teeth in children aged 4-7 years old. © 2022, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Institute of Science and Technology of Sao Jose dos Campos. All rights reserved.