Qualitative and quantitative radiographic assessment of sealed carious dentin: a 10-year prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to assess radiographic outcomes after partial carious dentin removal performed in deep caries lesions over a 10-year period.


METHODS
Baseline image was compared to 3 follow-up radiographs (at 6-7 months, 3 years, and 10 years). Tertiary dentin deposition and lesion depth were qualitatively assessed. Radiographic density changes in the radiolucent zone (RZ) beneath the restoration were quantitatively compared to the control areas (CA) using digital subtraction radiography (Friedman repeated-measures analysis of variance).


RESULTS
A total of 13 teeth were evaluated. In most cases, lesion depth remained unchanged or decreased (12/13) and tertiary dentin formation was observed (10/13) after the 10-year follow-up. Differences between RZ and CA at the 6- to 7-month and 3-year follow-up periods were similar but significantly lower than those at the 10-year assessment.


CONCLUSIONS
Sealing of carious dentin arrested the caries process, promoted deposition of tertiary dentin, and induced mineral gain in the radiolucent zone.
Alves
Luana Severo
LS
Department of Social and Preventive Dentistry, Faculty of Odontology, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Fontanella
Vania
V
Damo
Alessandra Cristina
AC
Ferreira de Oliveira
Elenara
E
Maltz
Marisa
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D003785:Dental Pulp Capping; D003804:Dentin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003809:Dentin, Secondary / Q000378:metabolism; D017220:Dentin-Bonding Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D036301:Qualitative Research; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D019279:Resin Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D014089:Tooth Remineralization; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement / Q000627:therapeutic use
D017220:Dentin-Bonding Agents; D019279:Resin Cements; D015035:Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide