Original Article

Year : 2018 | Volume : 2 | Issue : 1 | Page : 16 - 19

Dentinal Tubule Morphology in Carious Lesions: A Confocal Microscopic Study

Niroshini Rajaram, Pratibha Ramani1, Priya Premkumar1, Anuja Natesan1, Herald J. Sherlin1

Department of Oral Pathology, RVS Dental College, Coimbatore,1 Department of Oral Pathology, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Address for correspondence:

Dr. Niroshini Rajaram,

E‐mail: niroshini2000@gmail.com

Abstract

Objective:

The present study was designed to analyze the morphology of dentinal tubules in carious lesions using confocal microscopy.

Materials and Methods:

Undecalcified ground sections of human teeth were stained with alizarin red and examined by confocal microscopy. Ten extracted carious teeth (premolar and molar) were collected, disinfected, and simultaneously fixed by storing the teeth in 10% formalin for 5 days. The specimens were later dehydrated and embedded in resin. Longitudinal and cross sections were cut, polished, and then stained with alizarin red. After dehydration, specimens were mounted on a glass slide and examined under confocal microscope using epi‐fluorescent mode or transmission light mode at a wavelength of 512 nm.

Results:

The dentinal tubule morphology and the zones of dentinal caries were studied, and the histopathological changes of dentinal tubules showed areas of demineralized dentin, translucent dentin, and normal area.

Conclusion:

The current study showed that confocal laser scanning microscope has the ability to focus through a carious lesion into the underlying sound dentin and it is considered to be a nondestructive technique in demonstrating mineral changes in carious dentin.

Keywords: Alizarin red, confocal microscopy, dental caries

Financial support and sponsorship

Nil.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

How to cite this article:

Rajaram N, Ramani P, Premkumar P, Natesan A, Sherlin HJ. Dentinal tubule morphology in carious lesions: A confocal microscopic study. Int J Orofac Biol 2018;2:16-9.