title: In Vitro Assessment of Enamel Permeability in Primary Teeth with and without Early Childhood Caries Using Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the permeability of the enamel of primary teeth from individuals free of Early Childhood Caries (ECC) with that from individuals affected with ECC by assessment of dye penetration using Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope (LSCM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental in vitro study. Exfoliated primary maxillary anterior teeth (n = 44) were collected and divided into two groups (n=22 per group): samples with ECC (Group 1) and without ECC (Group 2). The samples were immersed in Rhodamine B dye solution for 1 day, cut longitudinally into 3 sections, observed using LSCM. Dye penetration depths in the incisal, middle, cervical thirds and on labial, lingual surfaces were recorded. Data were analyzed by the Mann-Whitney test (α = 5%, p < .005).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall mean penetration depth for group 1 (100.6 μm ± 58.48 μm) was significantly higher than that of group 2 (31.55 μm ± 23.40 μm, p < .000). Mean penetration depth in the incisal, middle, and cervical thirds and on the labial and lingual surfaces of group 1 also presented significantly higher scores than in group 2 (p < .005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was significantly more dye penetration in the ECC group than in the non-ECC group. This could be related to a higher level of enamel permeability in teeth affected with ECC.
authors.forename: Sabarinathan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Niviethitha
authors.forename: Murugan Satta
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Muthu
authors.forename: Swaminathan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kavitha
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D003481:Cuspid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D003745:Dental Enamel Permeability / Q000502:physiology*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007180:Incisor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D012235:Rhodamines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D019237:Tooth Cervix / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D012235:Rhodamines; C029773:rhodamine B
keywords: dental caries; dental caries susceptibility; dental enamel permeability; laser scanning confocal microscopy; pediatric dentistry; risk factors