306 - Chemomechanical Caries Removal with Papacarie Duo: A Comprehensive Review of an Exciting Alternate Treatment

Abstract: Title: Chemomechanical Caries Removal with Papacarie Duo: A Comprehensive Review

Author(s): Sophia Broome, Hope Clark, Mary Alden Cooper

Objective: To conduct a comprehensive literature review of the effectiveness of Papacarie Duo as an

atraumatic chemomechanical caries removal method and explore clinical indications of use.

Background: Papacarie Duo offers a minimally invasive caries removal alternative to conventional rotary

instrumentation. Traditional caries removal methods often require local anesthesia, the use of drills, and high

patient cooperation – which can be challenging for pediatric patients and patients with special health care

needs. This review will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness, safety, and clinical indications of Papacarie

Duo as a viable option for caries management in populations who may not tolerate conventional operative

techniques.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify peer-reviewed studies evaluating

chemomechanical caries removal using Papacarie Duo enzymatic caries removal. Database searches

included Scopus and PubMed. Our research inclusion criteria consisted of clinical trials, peer reviewed

journals, those published from 2020 to 2025, involving only human subjects, and written in the English

language. Studies were selected if they address clinical efficacy, patient comfort, treatment time, or outcomes

involving all patient populations (including pregnant patients, pediatric patients, and patients with special

needs). Search words included Papacarie, Papain, Human, and Dental Caries. Sixteen articles were used.

Review articles, case reports, and studies involving other chemomechanical agents without separate analysis

for Papacarie Duo were excluded. Data extraction focused on study design, sample size, patient population,

methodology, and reported clinical outcomes.

Identify Supporting Agency and Grant Number: Research supported by the Medical University of South Carolina, James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine, Intro to Research Methods/Independent Projects.