Effect of glutardialdehyde on secondary caries in situ.

In this paper the results are presented on the effect glutardialdehyde (GDA) on the in situ demineralization of human enamel and dentine around an artificial gap of 200 microns width. In this model secondary enamel and dentine caries is simulated in situ; the mineral loss was quantified. The results show that a 2-min application of a 2% acidic GDA solution reduces dentine demineralization substantially, but does not influence enamel demineralization. Microradiography showed a reduction of mineral loss values around the gap in dentine by about 30%. The beneficial effect of GDA on dentine is presumably a combined result of collagen fixation, the reduced diffusion of calcium and phosphate ions out of the dentine lesion, and antibacterial action. The results indicate that GDA might play a role in the future reduction or prevention of secondary dentine caries.