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Martignon S, Ekstrand KR et al. J Dent Res 2012; 91: 288–292

This study compared the efficacy of 1) infiltration (etching with 15% hydrochloric acid for two minutes before resin placement) and 2) conventional resin sealing, in order to control caries progression on the proximal surfaces of teeth. A split-mouth design was employed. To access the carious lesions, some of which had affected the outer third of the dentine, the teeth were separated by orthodontic elastic bands for two days. Radiographic examination at baseline and then after 1, 2 and 3 years showed that both infiltrating and sealing proximal carious lesions arrested the caries progression when compared with the control lesions. The harsh erosion caused by the HCl etching and then incomplete sealing could be the explanation as to why some of the infiltrated lesions progressed. Almost one third of the control sites did not progress.