Abstract
The main aim of this in vivo study was to evaluate a possible remineralization of human carious dentin by means of chemical and microradiographic studies. Eighty-six samples of carious dentin were removed from 36 permanent teeth of 24 patients. These were divided into untreated (control) and chemically pure calcium hydroxide-capped (experimental) samples and analyzed at intervals varying from 10 to 120 days. They were classified according to depth of caries and degree of dentin softening and evaluated in relation to weight, phosphorus concentration, qualitative and quantitative microradiography and absolute values of total mineral content. One of two halves of each sample was selected for chemical studies and the other for total content of mineral salts. Experimental samples were examined with a light microscope and the results obtained showed a qualitative increase in radiopacity. Quantitatively, it was observed that, in the case of samples analyzed for phosphorus concentration, the average mean of differences in percentage increase after treatment was 9.6%, while for the samples evaluated microradiographically for total mineral content, it was 22.29%. In both cases, the differences were statistically significant.
Highlights
Dental literature pertinent to carious dentin, in vitro and in vivo, was extensively reviewed by Conrado [1,2]
In an in vitro study employing a methodology that utilized qualitative and quantitative microradiography, Conrado [1] demonstrated that in 39 freshly extracted human teeth (22 permanent and 17 deciduous) demineralized dentin could be remineralized when treated by chemically pure calcium hydroxide
Results demonstrated that a comparison between calcium hydroxide-treated and untreated samples of carious dentin as determined chemically and microradiographically showed an increase in mineral content of the treated samples interpreted as remineralization
Summary
Dental literature pertinent to carious dentin, in vitro and in vivo, was extensively reviewed by Conrado [1,2]. Several studies reported remineralization, rehardening and tertiary dentin formation after application of a variety of agents, including calcium hydroxide. In an in vitro study employing a methodology that utilized qualitative and quantitative microradiography, Conrado [1] demonstrated that in 39 freshly extracted human teeth (22 permanent and 17 deciduous) demineralized dentin could be remineralized when treated by chemically pure calcium hydroxide. Three methods were chosen to evaluate this remineralization process: chemical analysis for phosphorus concentration, and qualitative and quantitative microradiography. These methods were chosen because they are considered suitable and accurate methods for studying mineralized dental tissues and demineralized tissues [3,4]
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