title: Physiological recalcification of carious dentin.
abstract: In order to confirm the ability of physiological recalcification of the human carious dentin, the first layer of carious dentin was removed from the symmetric cavities of bilateral pairs of human teeth, disclosing it by 0.5% basic fuchsin-propylene glycol solution staining. One of the pair teeth was immediately extracted and the other was left in the mouth after filling the cavity with polycarboxylate cement. The Ca content and hardness of the remaining second layer immediately and three months after the operation were compared by an electron probe microanalyzer and microhardness tester. They increased markedly after three months returning to the normal level from inside, proving physiological recalcification. A similar experiment was performed by using bilateral pairs of dog teeth with cavities having artificially decalcified dentin floor. After removing the fuchsin-stainable first layer, one of the pair was immediately extracted and the other was left in the mouth for three months after exposing or filling the cavity with various cements. As the Ca content was compared, a marked recalcification of the second layer of softened dentin was observed after three months returning to the normal level from the inside. The effect of different cavity treatment was slight.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent; D003804:Dentin / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004285:Dogs; D006244:Hardness; D006801:Humans; D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement / Q000494:pharmacology; D014074:Tooth Calcification / Q000187:drug effects; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011076:Polycarboxylate Cement; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide; D002118:Calcium