Morphological patterns of circumpulpal dentin affected by radiation-related caries

• Published in: Journal of clinical and experimental dentistry 2020-05, Vol.12 (5), p.e501-e508
• Main Authors: Faustino, Isabel-Schausltz-Pereira, Palmier, Natalia-Rangel, Fernandes, Patrícia-Maria, Ribeiro, Ana-Carolina-Prado, Brandão, Thais-Bianca, Santos-Silva, Alan-Roger, Vargas, Pablo-Agustin, Lopes, Marcio-Ajudarte Lopes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1989-5488; 1989-5488
• DOI: 10.4317/JCED.56584

The aim of this work was to evaluate the microscopic characteristics through polarized light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and the mineral content of circumpulpal dentin of irradiated (IT) and non-irradiated teeth (NIT), with deep caries that reached the root canal. A total of 25 IT were analyzed macroscopically, and radiographed. 5 NIT were used as controls. Two 100-μm-thick sections, per specimen, were evaluated in a polarized light microscopy and a scanning electron microscope. Demographics and clinical data were collected. The results did not demonstrate distinct morphology of the IT compared with NIT. Mineral content values by weight percentage of Ca and P were also similar, corresponding to 66.65% and 33.21% in the IT and 66.60% and 33.29% in the NIT. The Ca/P ratio did not show statistical differences between groups being respectively 2.74 and 2.72, in the IT and NIT ( > 0.05). Radiotherapy does not change morphology and mineral content of circumpulpal dentin in IT. Root canal, radiation-related caries, polarization microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, radiotherapy, oral neoplasms, dentin.