Secondary caries development and the role of a matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor: A clinical in situ study.

OBJECTIVES: This in situ study aimed to investigate whether the dentin treatment with MMPs inhibitor (CHX 2%) could influence the development of secondary caries wall lesions in different dentin-composite interfaces.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: For 21 days, 15 volunteers wore a modified-occlusal splint loaded with dentin-composite samples treated or not with CHX and restored according 4 different interface conditions: Bonding (B = samples restored with complete adhesive procedure), no bonding (NB = restored with composite resin without adhesive procedure), 100 μm (no adhesive procedure and with intentional gap) and 100 μm + B (adhesive material on composite side and intentional gap). Eight times per day, the splint with samples was dipped in a 20% sucrose solution for 10 min. Before and after caries development, samples were imaged with T-WIM and lesion depth (LD) and mineral loss (ML) were calculated.

RESULTS: Linear mixed effect analysis showed that dentin treatment with CHX did not significantly affect the caries lesion progression (LD and ML; p ≤ 0.797). Dentin wall lesions were observed in the 100 μm and 100 μm + B groups independently of MMP inhibitor treatment.

CONCLUSION: The treatment of dentin with MMP inhibitor was not able to slow down the secondary caries wall lesion development in this in situ study.

SIGNIFICANCE: The dentin treatment with 2% CHX did not prevent secondary caries wall lesion initiation.