title: Clinical, mineral and ultrastructural changes in carious dentin of primary molars after restoration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Partial caries removal has been shown to be an effective method to treat deep carious lesions in deciduous teeth. Nevertheless, the possibility of keeping infected dentin in the cavity still requires additional investigation. The objective of this research was to describe changes in primary infected dentin after restoration with glass ionomer cement.
  
  
  METHODS
  Dentin from 45 primary molars with deep and active carious lesions was evaluated using clinical and laboratory criteria, before and 60 days after restoration. The clinical analysis evaluated dentin colour (CO), dentin consistency (COS) and laser fluorescence (LF). The laboratory procedures assessed bacterial contamination and mineral content (MC), and evaluated the dentin ultrastructure and collagen content. Data on CO, COS, LF and colony forming units were analysed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test; MC, bacterial counts and collagen evaluations were evaluated using the Student's t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 60 days, lower values of LF were observed, together with a lower bacterial count, and a higher COS was found, with an increase in calcium, phosphorus and collagen contents. Differences were not detected for CO or for fluorine content. Baseline samples showed enlarged tubules with bacterial invasion; 60-day samples showed better organised tissue, with a more compact intertubular dentin and narrower tubules.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is concluded that appropriate cavity sealing can promote beneficial changes in deep carious lesions of primary teeth, even in the presence of infected dentin.
authors: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Ponta Grossa State University, Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: Ana Claudia Rodrigues
authors: AC
authors: Chibinski
authors: Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Ponta Grossa State University, Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: Letícia
authors: L
authors: Wambier
authors: Department of Restorative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Ponta Grossa State University, Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: Alessandra
authors: A
authors: Reis
authors: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Ponta Grossa State University, Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brazil.
authors: Denise Stadler
authors: DS
authors: Wambier
mesh_terms: D058491:Bacterial Load; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003094:Collagen / Q000032:analysis; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003793:Dental Restoration, Permanent / Q000379:methods*; D003804:Dentin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D010758:Phosphorus; D003094:Collagen
keywords: Tooth; deciduous; deep carious lesions; dental restoration