Replication of human occlusal tooth attrition surfaces for scanning electron microscopic study

Area of Science:

• Dental microscopy
• Tooth wear research
• Biomaterials in dentistry

Background:

• Occlusal attrition exposes dentine, leading to sensitivity.
• Dentine tubules play a key role in dentine sensitivity.
• Current methods for evaluating dentine exposure are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a silicone replica technique for examining dentine tubules in occlusal attrition.
• To assess the in vivo applicability of this technique for monitoring therapeutic interventions.

Main Methods:

• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine silicone negative replicas of dentine.
• Extracted human teeth with occlusal attrition were used for initial technique validation.
• The technique was subsequently applied in vivo to patients with symptomatic exposed dentine islands.

Main Results:

• Silicone replicas accurately reproduced the fine details of dentinal tubules.
• The technique successfully demonstrated patent dentinal tubules in vivo in symptomatic cases.
• The reproducibility suggests potential for monitoring treatment effects.

Conclusions:

• Silicone negative replicas provide a reliable method for visualizing dentinal tubules in occlusal attrition.
• This technique offers a novel approach for in vivo assessment of dentine exposure.
• It holds promise for monitoring the efficacy of treatments aimed at dentinal tubule closure.