An attempt to correlate dentin and pulp changes in human carious teeth

Abstract

The purpose of the present investigation was to study the dentin and pulp changes in the two halves of bisected carious teeth in order to determine if they are comparable. The dentin was studied by means of contact microradiography. Hypo- and hypermineralized zones, which were fairly similar in extension and degree of mineralization, were seen in the primary dentin of both halves of the teeth. If secondary dentin had formed, comparable amounts were usually present in the two halves. The pulp was studied, using demineralized 5 mum thick paraffin serial sections. In teeth with deep carious lesions severe inflammation with abscess formation was often observed in one half, whereas only scattered inflammatory cells were present in the other half. It seems questionable, therefore, whether the study of dentin and pulp reactions to caries in different halves of bisected teeth is a suitable method in investigations concerning a possible correlation between these reactions.