Journal of Dental Research, Vol 67, 817-821, Copyright © 1988 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Artificial caries around restorations in roots
D. G. Purton and J. C. Rodda
Department of Conservative Dentistry, University of Otago School of Dentistry, Dunedin, New Zealand.
An artificial caries technique was used to produce caries-like lesions in
the cavity walls adjacent to microfilled resin restorations with and
without dentin bonding agent, and glass-ionomer cement restorations, in the
roots of extracted teeth. The lesions had histological characteristics
similar to those of natural lesions and to those of the lesions produced by
other experimental methods. The zonal pattern of the lesions was examined
by means of polarized light microscopy and microradiography, and the depth
of the lesions was measured for assessment of the microleakage around the
restorations. Three cavity cleaning regimes-water spray alone, 50% citric
acid, and a proprietary cleaner-were compared in conjunction with the three
restorative methods. Cavity cleaning with the citric acid or the
proprietary cleaner, and the use of a fluoride-releasing restorative
material, acted to reduce the depths of the lesions. Glass-ionomer cement
restorations in cavities cleaned with citric acid showed lesions
significantly shallower than those treated with other restorations. The
glass-ionomer cement was soluble in the acidic environment but promoted the
precipitation of minerals in the lesions. The use of a dentin bonding agent
did not affect the depth of demineralization around the microfilled resin
restorations.
