Remineralization of carious dentin. II: In vivo microradiographic and chemical studies in human permanent teeth capped with calcium hydroxide

Abstract

The main aim of this in vivo study was to evaluate a possible remineralization of human carious dentin by means of chemical and microradiographic studies. Eighty-six samples of carious dentin were removed from 36 permanent teeth of 24 patients. These were divided into untreated (control) and chemically pure calcium hydroxide-capped (experimental) samples and analyzed at intervals varying from 10 to 120 days. They were classified according to depth of caries and degree of dentin softening and evaluated in relation to weight, phosphorus concentration, qualitative and quantitative microradiography and absolute values of total mineral content. One of two halves of each sample was selected for chemical studies and the other for total content of mineral salts. Experimental samples were examined with a light microscope and the results obtained showed a qualitative increase in radiopacity. Quantitatively, it was observed that, in the case of samples analyzed for phosphorus concentration, the average mean of differences in percentage increase after treatment was 9.6%, while for the samples evaluated microradiographically for total mineral content, it was 22.29%. In both cases, the differences were statistically significant.

Translated abstract

O principal objetivo deste estudo in vivo foi verificar uma possível remineralização da dentina cariada humana. Oitenta e seis amostras de dentina cariada foram estudadas, removidas de 36 dentes permanentes de 24 pacientes e divididas em não-tratadas (controles) e capeadas com hidróxido de cálcio quimicamente puro (experimentais), estudadas de acordo com períodos de observação entre 10 e 120 dias, classificadas levando-se em conta profundidade e grau de amolecimento dentinário e avaliadas em relação a peso, concentração de fósforo, microradiografias qualitativas e quantitativas e valores absolutos de conteúdo mineral total. As amostras experimentais foram examinadas ao microscópio óptico e um aumento qualitativo em radiopacidade foi observado. Quantitativamente, foi mostrado que, no caso das amostras analisadas para concentração de fósforo, a média das diferenças em aumento de porcentagens após tratamento foi da ordem de 9.56%, enquanto que para as amostras avaliadas microradiograficamente o aumento do conteúdo mineral total foi de 22.29%. Em ambos os casos, as diferenças registradas foram estatisticamente significantes.