Observation of structural changes in human caries dentin.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the morphological changes found in the human caries dentin by optical and electron microscopy. The dental caries invasion showed more variety in the dentin portions. This appeared to be caused by the differences in the structual characteristics of the dentinal tubules and the intertubular dentin. Furthermore, the lateral branches of the dentinal tubules are also deeply concerned in this process. The more the region was near the caries cavity, the more the dentinal structure exhibited remarkable changes. The structual changes in the caries dentin in two directions ocurred earlier and more marked than in one direction. So, it seems that the dentin caries involvement does not always coincide with the degree of the structural changes in the caries dentin.