An acidified gel system was used to produce artificial caries lesions in root surfaces and in enamel. The teeth were exposed to the gel system for two weeks and four weeks, after which the lesions were examined by polarized light microscopy and photographed by standardized techniques. The depths of penetration of the lesions were measured from these standardized photomicrographs.
The lesions in root surfaces were deeper than those in enamel for all teeth. After two but not four weeks of exposure in the gel system, the lesions in the root surfaces of anterior teeth were deeper than those in pre-molars.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Banting, D.W. and Courtright, P.N. (1975): Distribution and Natural History of Carious Lesions on the Roots of Teeth, J Can Dent Assoc41:45-49.
2.
Katz, R.V.; Hazen, S.P.; Chilton, N.W.;and Mumma, R.D. (1982): Prevalence and Intraoral Distribution of Root Caries in an Adult Population, Caries Res16:265-271.
3.
Nyvad, B. and Fejerskov, O. (1983): Experimental Microbial Colonization of Dental Enamel and Collagenous Root Surfaces in vivo, Caries Res17:172-173 (Abst) (No. 46).
4.
Nyvad, B.; Fejerskov, O.; and Killian, M. (1981): Early Plaque Formation on Dental Enamel and Cementum: An SEM and Microbiological Investigation, Caries Res15:204 (Abst) (No. 77).
5.
O'Leary, T.J.; Drake, R.B.; Crump, P.P.; and Allen, M.F. (1971): The Incidence of Recession in Young Males: A Further Study, J Perio42:264-267.
6.
Phankosol, P.; Ettinger, R.L.; Hicks, M.J.; and Wefel, J.S. (1985): Histopathology of the Initial Lesion of the Root Surface: An in vitro Study, J Dent Res (in press).
7.
Ravald, N. and Hamp, S.E. (1981): Prediction of Root Surface Caries in Patients Treated for Advanced Periodontal Disease, J Clin Periodontol8:400-414.
8.
Sumney, D.L.; Jordan, H.V.; and Englander, H.R. (1973): The Prevalence of Root Surface Caries in Selected Populations, J Perio44:500-504.
9.
Westbrook, J.L.; Miller, A.S.; Chilton, N.W.; Williams, F.L.; and Mumma, R.D. (1974): Root Surface Caries: A Clinical, Histopathologic and Microradiographic Investigation, Caries Res8:249-255.
