An in vitro evaluation of artificial caries-like lesions on restored overdenture abutments

An acidified dialyzed gelatin gel system was used to determine the caries resistance of a variety of restorative materials used to obturate the canal orifice of overdenture abutment teeth. The restorative materials used were Tytin, Tytin + Copalite, P30 + Scotchbond, Fuji Ionomer-Type II, and Miracle Mix. Polarized light microscopy and microradiography were used to examine the caries-like lesions adjacent to the restorations. The lesions formed in the Fuji Ionomer-Type II and Miracle Mix groups appeared arrested at the wall adjacent to the restoration, and did not penetrate apically down the wall as did those associated with the other restorative materials. The mean depths of lesions adjacent to Fuji Ionomer-Type II and Miracle Mix restorations were significantly less than those of Tytin, Tytin + Copalite, or P30 + Scotchbond.