ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY ON THE INITIATION OF DENTAL CARIES

치아우식증의 최초 발생부위에 관한 전자현미경적 연구

Freshly extracted permant teeth were examined by electron microscope according to the Filmy replica method. Preparatory method with hydrochloric acid or proteolytic enzyme treatment was used in order to injure the structural composition of enamel surface to compare between the natural carious defects and the etched samples used in this study. The natural carious defects were chalky white or brown discolored portions at the smooth enamel surface without having visible loss of enamel substances. The findings were as follows: 1. The first caries attact initiated from the mineralized portion of rod sheath which is located at the top of enamel rod. 2. The caries developed downward along the rod sheath interprismatic substances and enamel rods subsequently. However, the caries involvement of interprismatic substances and enamel rods occured almost at the same time. 3. The rod sheath attached to the remineralized smooth emael surface was located at the top of enamel rod.