| dc.description | This study was designed to investigate whether there is
a correlation between the findings of optical coherence
tomography (OCT) and polarized light microscopy (PLM)
when these techniques are used to evaluate standard
enamel white-spot lesions developed by distinct cariogenic
challenges. Bovine enamel fragments (N = 168)
were randomly allocated into 6 experimental groups
according to the microbiologic model (Streptococcus
mutans UA159, Streptococcus sobrinus ATCC 33478,
or mixed S mutans and S sobrinus) and carbohydrate
sources (1% sucrose or combined 1% sucrose and 1%
starch). Specimens were examined by OCT and PLM
every day within a period of 7 days. Five measurements
of demineralization depth were recorded for each specimen,
and means were calculated. Data were analyzed
with analysis of variance and Tukey tests (?? = 0.05), and
a correlation test was performed. All cariogenic challenges
created sub-superficial lesions. In both the OCT
and PLM analyses, the demineralization depth reached
its peak between days 6 and 7 of the cariogenic challenge,
except for the group challenged with S sobrinus
supplemented with combined sucrose and starch; for
that group, demineralization peaked on day 5 in the OCT
analysis. There was a significant correlation between
OCT and PLM (P = 0.00; r = 0.842). This preliminary study
suggests that OCT is a reliable, nondestructive method
to measure the demineralization depth of enamel whitespot
lesions, which can be useful for the laboratory and
has potential for clinical studies. Using the 1% sucrose
and S mutans model for 6 days is a simple and effective
method to induce enamel caries???like lesions without
compromising the depth and morphologic features of
the obtained lesions. | |
