Microstructure of Active and Arrested Dentinal Caries

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Abstract
Active and arrested carious lesions were studied with an electron microscopic in human dentin. Active lesions[long dash]The infected (bacteria-rich) zone was within the deep portion of the necrotic layer and the upper portion of the decalcified layer. The deeper portion of the decalcified layer was free of bacteria and contained many large crystals probably formed by re precipitation of apatite dissolved by the bacterial acids. Sclerosis began early at the junction between the decalcified layer and the normal dentin. The deeper layers were also bacteria-free. Arrested lesions[long dash]In the superficial bacteria-rich laryer, most of the intratubular bacterial bodies had disintegrated and coalesced and were presumably dead. The intertubular zone had become much more mineralized. In the deeper layers, the intratubular contents were hyper mineralized and obliterated (sclerosed). The calcification appeared to be continuous with the peritubular zone. This entire area was bacteria-free. The pigmentation of the arrested lesion may be related to degenerative changes in the bacteria.