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Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Ratiometric Imaging of Extracellular pH in Dental Biofilms
Published on: March 9, 2016
Evaluation of relative concentration of bacteria in 1% acid red 52- stainable and non-stainable dentin
D D Shirol1, S D Deshpande, A Shigli
1Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, KLES′s Institute of Dental Sciences, Belgaum, India.
Abstract:
Modern management of caries stresses on non-invasive techniques wherever possible with maximum protection of sound tooth structure. Various dyes provide a highly contrasting visual clue by staining only infected dentin, thus clearly demarcating it from the affected normal dentin. Utilizing this property of preferential staining of the "Caries Detector" the current study was carried out to evaluate the relative concentration of bacteria in 1% Acid Red 52-stainable and non-stainable dentin. Sample of ten carious permanent molars or premolars in individual patient's mouth and carious teeth extracted due to periodontal diseases were examined for the two parts of the clinical study. Each clinical aspect was later subjected to laboratory procedure. Cariously infected dentin delineated by the solution, "Caries Detector" (1% Acid Red 52 solution in propylene glycol) contained six times more CFU/ml than dentin that did not take up dye.
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