A model for producing caries-like lesions in enamel and dentin using oral bacteria in vitro.
Subsurface enamel lesions and root surface caries-like lesions were consistently produced in vitro using Streptococcus mutans FA1 cultured in thioglycollate broth containing 3.5% w/v dextrose and 2% w/v gelatin. When viewed in polarized light and after imbibition in water, the enamel lesions had a negatively birefringent surface zone and positively birefringent body of the lesion. Those lesions produced after six weeks, after imbibition in quinoline, exhibited a dark zone. The root surface caries-like lesions exhibited a less-radiolucent surface zone above a heavily demineralized body of the lesion. However, no reactionary dentin was seen in the in vitro lesions.
D003731:Dental Caries / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003739:Dental Cementum / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D003804:Dentin / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008852:Microradiography; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization; D008954:Models, Biological; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000502:physiology*