Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 24, 2026
Author Spotlight: Establishing an Accurate Microhardness Testing Protocol for Craniofacial Tissues
Published on: April 26, 2024
The wolf in sheep's clothing: Microtomographic aspects of clinically incipient radiation-related caries
K Morais-Faria1, R Neves-Silva, M-A Lopes
1Oral Diagnosis Department, Semiology Area, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, Brazil, Av. Limeira, 901. P.O. Box 52, Areão, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil, alanroger@fop.unicamp.br.
Background:
Radiation related caries (RRC) can cause rapid progression, with a high potential for dental destruction affecting mainly cervical and incisal areas. Unlike the injuries that occur in the conventional caries, incipient RRC present in unusual surfaces have difficult diagnosis and classification stages of cavitation.
Material And Methods:
Evaluate the radiographic patterns of demineralization of RRC by using micro-CT. Ten teeth with incipient RRC and 10 teeth with incipient conventional caries (control group) matched by anatomic teeth group and caries affected surfaces were evaluated by X-ray microtomography (micro-CT) Skyscan 1174V2 (50Kv, 1.3 megapixel, Kontich, Belgium). Teeth were placed in a standard position for micro-CT (coronal, transaxial and sagittal sections) during images acquisition. Lesions were classified according to the depth of invasion and relationship with enamel, dentin and pulp.
Results:
RRC samples presented deeper lesions with higher involvement of enamel and dentin. Control group presented focal and superficial lesions with lower involvement of enamel and dentin.
Conclusions:
Incipient RRC present aggressive microtomographic patterns of demineralization when compared to conventional caries, as indicated by deep lesions, regardless of its clinically incipient aspects.
