The effect of disking technique on proximal caries of primary upper incisors in tribal preschool children attending child development Centers of Mae Fah Luang district, and Doi Tung development project, Chiang Rai

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the effect of disking technique and resin modified glass ionomer cement (RMGI) restoration on proximal caries of primary upper incisors in tribal preschool children, aged 3-5 years, attending child development centers of Doi Tung Development Project, Chiang Rai. Methods: Twenty tribal preschool children were enrolled in this match-paired design study. Twenty-six proximal carious surfaces were randomized for RMGI restoration (control group), and 26 proximal carious surfaces were randomized for disking technique (experimental group). Fluoride varnish was applied in both groups after treatment. At 6-month interval, the treatment success was evaluated including retention of restoration, marginal integrity, no progression of caries and no periapical pathology. Fisher’s exact test was used for analysis. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: After 6 months, 22 (85.0%) RMGI restorations still survived, and 25 (96%) RMGI restorations revealed normal periapical area. In disking group, no caries progression was found among the 24 surfaces (92%), all of disking teeth (100%) revealed normal periapical area. There was no statistically significant difference in clinical and radiographic outcomes between these methods (p=1.000). Conclusion: In proximal caries management of primary upper incisors limited to dentin outer third and dentin middle third by RMGI restoration and disking technique, no statistically significant difference was found in clinical and radiographic outcomes at 6-month interval.