Dental Cement in Post-operative Sensitivity: Randomized Clinical Trial

The present study is a clinical trial: an intervention model, prospective, randomized, double-blind (patients and evaluator). It was held at the Dental Office of the 14th Field Artillery Group - Pouso Alegre (MG), Military Organization of the Brazilian Army in conjunction with the University of Vale do Sapucaí (UNIVÁS), Pouso Alegre, Minas Gerais, Brazil; in the period from 23 March 2020 to 18 January 2021.

Participants were initially evaluated according to the inclusion and non-inclusion criteria of the research. Clinical examinations were performed initially using a mouth mirror, explorer probe (Golgran®, São Caetano do Sul, SP, Brazil). The data were recorded on clinical records for screening. The radiographic examination included performing periapical radiographs as diagnostic aids, for participants who met the inclusion criteria during the clinical examination. Oral hygiene guidelines were provided to all research participants. To begin the service, an anamnesis form was filled out.

Randomization occurred after applying the inclusion and non-inclusion criteria of the patients, 20 were selected, according to the initial clinical examination.

The 20 patients were randomized and the random sequence for submission to radiographic examinations was determined, defining 70 teeth to be treated, within the study criteria.

As for the group that each tooth would belong to; 70 brown envelopes were made: 35 containing green paper, belonging to the standard restorative procedure group and 35 containing pink paper, belonging to the DTA® group. Before starting the procedure for each tooth, the patient was asked to choose the envelope. Thus, the sequence of treatments was determined. The envelopes chosen for each treatment were discarded.

The teeth grouped in group R were treated with composite resin restoration without liner material, considered a control group.

The teeth grouped in group D received PBS CIMMO DTA® as indirect capping material of the cavity, followed by restoration of composite resin.

Sensitivity tests

Before starting the restorative treatment, dental sensitivity assessment was performed: Cold test: Using cotton in Cremer® balls, safe in clinical forceps (Duflex®), cooled with fluorethane gas, applied over the buccal surface of the tooth for 15s or until patient indicates painful sensation (Endo Ice® Spray, Maquira), for the Cold Test. The time from the beginning of the stimulus until its disappearance was counted (Time of Decline of pain). Percussion test: With the aid of the mouth mirror handle (Duflex®), the tooth was touched with light "taps", in the occlusal-apical and vestibule-lingual / vestibule-palate directions. Masticatory strength test: The patient performed masticatory movements under a bite device (Indusbello®, Londrina, PR, Brazil). The patient's perceptions of sensitivity were checked on a scale from 0 to 10 using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).

Restorative procedures

Pumice prophylaxis (SS White®, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil) and water were initially performed in order to remove residues and / or dental biofilm. Proceeding to the stage of topical anesthesia (Benzotop® 200mg, DFL, Jacarepaguá, RJ, Brazil), followed by local infiltrative anesthesia (Alphacaine® 2% DFL, Jacarepaguá, RJ, Brazil) and absolute isolation of the operative field.

It should be noted that the absolute isolation was performed prior to the cavity preparation, following the sanitary rules (Covid 19), to contain aerosols caused by the use of high speed.

The operative procedure was performed initially with spherical diamond tips (KG® Sorensen, Cotia, SP, Brazil) numbering compatible with the carious lesion (1011, 1012, 1013, 1014, 1016), until reaching the caries carefully, so as not to remove structure healthy dental. Then, carbide steel spherical drills, numbering compatible with the lesion, no. 2, 4 or 6 (KG Sorensen®, Cotia, SP, Brazil) were used at low speed (Contra-angle, Kavo®, Joinville, PR, Brazil) to remove carious tissue. Each diamond tip and Carbide drill was used a maximum of 4 times, after which they were discarded.

For restorations that needed to restore the shape of the proximal walls, wedges, preformed metal matrices and staples (Unimatrix®, TDV Pomerode-SC-Brasil) were used.

Subsequently, the cavities were restored, as described below:

In group R teeth, the following operative step was performed:

Conditioning with 37% phosphoric acid (Condac® 37, FGM, Joinville, SC, Brazil) was performed for 30 seconds on enamel and 15 seconds on dentin. Then the cavity was washed with the aid of a triple syringe using an air / water jet for 10 seconds.

The cavities received the restorative system composed of the Adper Single Bond2® adhesive, and the nano-particulate resin Filtek Z350XT® (3M ESPE Dental Products TM, St. Paul, MN, USA). The dentin substrate was left slightly moist, with the aid of cotton in Cremer® balls. Adhesive material was used, using a Cavibrush® microbrush brush, FGM, Joinville, SC, Brazil), strictly following the manufacturer's rules, used for this purpose; saturated for each covering, two consecutive layers of the enamel and dentin adhesive were applied, waited 30 seconds, continued with light air jets for 5 seconds and then the photoactivation was performed for 10 seconds with LED (Poly® Wireless , Kavo, Joinville-SC-Brazil), with a power of 600 ± 50 mW / cm².

The restorations were performed using the composite resin Filtek Z350 XT® (3M ESPE Dental Products TM, St. Paul, MN, USA) using the incremental oblique technique, in increments of a maximum of 2 mm in thickness, and each increment was photoactivated by 20 seconds, with LED (Poly® Wireless, Kavo, Joinville, SC, Brazil) final polymerization for 40s.

After the restorations were completed, absolute isolation was removed, then the sculpture was refined and occlusal adjustment was carried out, immediate finishing with thin diamond tips number 2135F, 3118F and 3195F (KG Sorensen®, Cotia, SP, Brazil), depending of the restored anatomical region. Polishing was carried out with abrasive silicone polishers for resins (Microdont®, Camanducaia, SP-Brazil) in medium (yellow) and superfine (white) granules and felt disc (Diamond®, FGM) with diamond paste (Diamond Excel® , FGM, Joinville, SC, Brazil).

In group D teeth, the same restorative step was also carried out, but prior to the acid conditioning step, PBS CIMMO DTA® cement was applied as a base for the dental cavity, following the manufacturer's instructions.

The PBS CIMMO DTA® Cement was handled in a sterile glass plate and spatula 24 (Duflex®), a portion of the cement powder and a drop of distilled water were dispensed (1: 1 ratio). Then, the manipulated material was inserted, with the aid of a dentin spoon (Duflex®), to the pulp wall of the cavity preparation. Using clinical forceps (Duflex®) and cotton in Cremer® balls, the cement was condensed at the bottom of the cavity, obtaining adaptation and removing excess moisture. Then, acid conditioning, adhesive application, restorative technique and polishing were performed as previously recommended for group R.

Clinical evaluations

The research participants had their personal records, anamnesis, as well as the type of treatment proposed inserted in a clinical form. However, only the operator, who performed the restorative procedures, had access to them. In another form, the values obtained in the Sensitivity Tests at 5 different moments were noted. The first tests, performed in the preoperative period and the others in the postoperative period. The evaluations were performed by a single examiner, trained by the researcher and not involved with the restorative procedures. The evaluations were noted on a specific form (Appendix B). The examiner was kept blind in all assessments.

It is noteworthy that: due to the health requirements imposed by the pandemic Covid 19, the evaluations were carried out by a single evaluator.

Sensitivity assessment

Sensitivity tests were performed before the restorative procedure, at 48 hours, 7, 15 and 30 days post-procedures. The analysis included: pain caused by thermal stimuli, percussion and bite.

For the thermal test, cotton was used in Cremer® balls, secured by clinical forceps (Duflex®), cooled with fluorethane gas (Endo Ice® Spray, Maquira) and applied over the buccal surface of the treated tooth, for 15s or even the patient indicates painful sensation. In the percussion test, with the aid of the mouth mirror handle (Duflex®), touches were made on the tooth with light "taps", in the occlusal-apical and vestibule-lingual / vestibule-palate directions. For the test of masticatory forces, the patient performed masticatory movements under a bite device (Indusbello®, Londrina, PR, Brazil).

The patients received a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) (AMARAL and CALASANS, 2013) (Figure 1). Sensitivity perceptions were cataloged from 0 to 10. The scores determined were: 0 no pain, 1 to 2 mild pain, 3 to 5 moderate pain, 6 to 7 moderate pain slightly worse, 8 to 9 severe pain, 10 maximum pain .

The analyzes were tabulated in Microsoft exel and sent for statistical procedures.