A Banerjee1, M Sherriff, E A Kidd, T F Watson. 1. Division of Conservative Dentistry, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Dental Institute, Guy's Hospital, London.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: An in-vitro study to examine the correlation between the distribution of the autofluorescent signal emitted from carious dentine (detected using confocal laser scanning microscopy) and its microhardness, within the depths of human dentine lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve carious teeth were sectioned longitudinally, the cut faces marked with a grid reference line system and colour photomicrographs taken. The same samples were imaged using confocal laser-scanning microscopy for autofluorescence and then subjected to microhardness testing using a Knoop microhardness indenter. Adjacent sound dentine was used as a control reference. Digital image superimposition allowed direct comparisons to be made between the colour, autofluorescence and microhardness of each lesion. RESULTS: Sound enamel and dentine did not autofluorescence. Autofluorescence distribution from carious dentine correlated with the highly softened tissue (detected using the Knoop indenter) and terminated at a level superficial to the translucent zone. This zone was still pigmented. Normal, sound dentine hardness levels were found deep to the translucent zone. CONCLUSIONS: A correlation existed between the zone of autofluorescence and carious dentine that was markedly softened by the carious process. These findings highlighted a possibility that the autofluorescence might be used as an in-vitro, objective histological marker for the softened, carious dentine requiring clinical excavation.
OBJECTIVE: An in-vitro study to examine the correlation between the distribution of the autofluorescent signal emitted from carious dentine (detected using confocal laser scanning microscopy) and its microhardness, within the depths of human dentine lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve carious teeth were sectioned longitudinally, the cut faces marked with a grid reference line system and colour photomicrographs taken. The same samples were imaged using confocal laser-scanning microscopy for autofluorescence and then subjected to microhardness testing using a Knoop microhardness indenter. Adjacent sound dentine was used as a control reference. Digital image superimposition allowed direct comparisons to be made between the colour, autofluorescence and microhardness of each lesion. RESULTS: Sound enamel and dentine did not autofluorescence. Autofluorescence distribution from carious dentine correlated with the highly softened tissue (detected using the Knoop indenter) and terminated at a level superficial to the translucent zone. This zone was still pigmented. Normal, sound dentine hardness levels were found deep to the translucent zone. CONCLUSIONS: A correlation existed between the zone of autofluorescence and carious dentine that was markedly softened by the carious process. These findings highlighted a possibility that the autofluorescence might be used as an in-vitro, objective histological marker for the softened, carious dentine requiring clinical excavation.
Authors: Lorenzo Breschi; Pietro Gobbi; Mirella Falconi; Alessandra Ruggeri; Giovanni Mazzotti; Roberto Di Lenarda; Carlo Prati Journal: Clin Oral Investig Date: 2003-08-21 Impact factor: 3.573