No abstract

Near-infrared-light transillumination could be used as a radiation-free adjunct or alternative to RA for detecting carious lesions adjacent to composite restorations.

We assessed pulpal remineralisation of caries lesions in vitro. On the coronal aspect of human dentin discs (n = 70), artificial lesions [mineral loss ΔZ (mean ± SD) = 3,060 ± 604 vol% × µm] were induced, covered and pulpal surfaces exposed to pulpal fluid, remineralisation medium or water at pressures of 0, 1.47 or 2.94 kPa for 3 months. Mineral loss differences were assessed using transversal microradiography. No significant mineral gain occurred at 0 kPa and in samples exposed to water. At 1.47 and 2.94 kPa, pulpal and remineralisation fluid induced significant mineral gain [ΔΔZ = 1,317 (25th/75th percentiles: 735/1,541) vol% × µm; p < 0.001]. Pressure and fluid composition determined pulpal remineralisation in vitro.

Glass hybrids might provide additional remineralization of residual carious lesions. The functional implications of this mineral gain need to be evaluated.

Objectives: selective caries excavation (SE) is recommended for deep carious lesions. Bulk fill composites (BF) may be considered to restore SE-cavities. We compared the susceptibility for secondary caries adjacent to BF versus incrementally filled composites (IF) in SE and non-selectively excavated teeth (NS) in vitro. Methods: in 72 extracted human premolars, artificial caries lesions were induced on pulpo-axial walls of standardized cavities. The lesions were left (SE) or removed (NS), and teeth were restored using two BF, GrandioSO x-tra/Voco (BF-Gra) and SDR/Dentsply (BF-SDR), and an IF, GrandioSO/Voco (IF-Gra) (n = 12/group for SE and NS). After thermo-mechanical cycling (5–55 °C, 8 days), teeth were submitted to a continuous-culture Lactobacillus rhamnosus biofilm model with cyclic loading for 10 days. Mineral loss (ΔZ) of enamel surface lesions (ESL), dentin surface lesions (DSL), and dentin wall lesions (DWL) was analyzed using transversal microradiography. Results: ΔZ was the highest in DSL, followed by ESL, and it was significantly lower in DWL. There were no significant differences in ΔZ between groups in DSL, ESL, and DWL (p > 0.05). Regardless of lesion location, ΔZ did not differ between SE and NS (p > 0.05). Conclusions: BF and IF both showed low risks for DWL (i.e., true secondary caries) after SE in vitro, and surface lesion risk was also not significantly different between materials. SE did not increase secondary caries risk as compared with NS. Clinical Significance: the risk of secondary caries was low after selective excavation in this study, regardless of whether bulk or incrementally filled composites were used