Is It Possible to induce Artificial Caries-affected Dentin using the Same Protocol to Primary and Permanent Teeth?

Abstract

This in vitro study compared the mineral loss of natural and artificially-created caries-affected dentin in primary and permanent teeth using the same protocol to induce caries lesions. Twenty molars presenting natural occlusal dentin caries lesions (10 primary-PriC and 10 perma-nent-PermC; control group), and 20 sound molars (10 primary -PripH and 10 permanent-PermpH; experimental group), were selected. Occlusal cavities were prepared in teeth of the experimental group that were submitted to pH-cycling for 14 days to simulate caries-affected dentin. All specimens were longitudinally sectioned and prepared in order to obtain Knoop micro-hardness values from 15 to 250 urn depth, starting in bottom of center of natural lesions or cavities. The microhardness (KHN) data were submitted to three-way repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's tests (α = 0.05). Considering all depths, there was no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) between the mineral loss of the control (PriC = 30.9 ± 6.4 and PermC = 40.8 ± 8.6) and experimental (PripH = 27.3 ± 11.1 and PermpH = 35.5 ± 14.0) groups, neither between primary and permanent teeth. The mineral loss of the artificially-created caries-affected dentin is similar to that from naturally developed dentin caries lesions. The pH-cycling model may be a suitable method to simulate caries-affected dentin in both permanent and primary teeth.