Application of an in Vitro Cariogenic Technic to Study the Development of Carious Lesions Around Dental Restorations

¹ University of Missouri, School of Dentistry, Kansas City, Missouri

An in vitro cariogenic technic, which links the development of carious lesions with microleakage, was used to study in vitro carious lesions around amalgam restorations. Lined and unlined amalgam restorations were evaluated, using the lesion as the endpoint. Accordingly, two restorations, one lined (cavity varnish) and one unlined, were placed in the occlusal surfaces of each of 28 extracted teeth. The teeth were exposed to the effects of bacterial growth for either 12 or 16 weeks. The technic used provided an effective means of detecting carious lesions around restorations. The results demonstrated that lined amalgam restorations were less susceptible to the production of carious lesions than unlined amalgam restorations.