Comparative Evaluation of Deciduous and Permanent Coronal Caries Using Polarizing Light Microscopy and Scanning...

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Oral Biology
• Microscopy

Background:

• Dental caries leads to mineral loss and organic damage.
• Understanding caries and dentin pulp reactions is vital for management.
• Microscopic changes in caries destruction and reactive dentin are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare microscopic and ultramicroscopic changes in deciduous and permanent coronal caries.
• To analyze enamel and dentin destruction, reactive dentin formation, peritubular dentin destruction, and bacterial colonization.

Main Methods:

• Utilized polarizing and scanning electron microscopy.
• Examined 30 carious teeth (15 primary, 15 permanent) and 10 noncarious controls.
• Assessed tissue destruction, dentin reactions, and bacterial presence.

Main Results:

• Deciduous teeth exhibited greater enamel and dentin destruction from caries.
• Permanent teeth showed more reactive dentin formation.
• Increased peritubular dentine alteration in deciduous teeth; higher bacterial presence on permanent dentin.

Conclusions:

• Caries destruction is more extensive in deciduous teeth.
• Permanent teeth demonstrate a more effective reactive response to caries.
• Permanent teeth possess greater structural durability and a more robust dentin pulp complex response.