A scanning electron microscopic study of bacterial penetration of human enamel in incipient caries.
In 23 human teeth, cracked enamel under white spot lesions without any visible loss of tooth substance was examined. Bacterial contamination from the enamel surface was prevented by brushing and consequent fixing of the remaining surface coatings before the enamel was fractured. In 7 of 23 specimens, bacterial colonies were observed under the enamel surface, sometimes as deep as the enamel-dentine junction and the dentine. In most samples the subsurface enamel appeared to be partly disintegrated. Bacteria can thus be found under surface enamel at an early stage of caries while the surface is still intact.
D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003487:Cyanoacrylates; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
D003487:Cyanoacrylates