There is little evidence that infected dentine must be removed prior to sealing the tooth. Leaving infected den- tine does not seem to result in caries progression, pul- pitis or pulp death.

Does affected dentin need to be removed?

On the basis of the studies cited in this review, one can state that there is substantial evidence that the removal of all infected dentin in deep carious lesions is not required for successful caries treatment—provided that the restoration can seal the lesion from the oral environment effectively.

Can you leave affected dentine?

Although leaving affected or infected dentin over the pulpal floor can be advantageous, achieving a periphery of sound, hard dentin and enamel is necessary to achieve optimal bonding and an effective restorative seal.