A macroscopic and histological analysis of radiographically well-defined deep and extremely deep carious lesions: carious lesion characteristics as indicators of the level of bacterial penetration and pulp response

摘要

Aim To investigate the relationship between radiographically and macroscopically well-defined carious lesions and the dentine-pulp complex with regard to: (i) level of bacterial penetration; (ii) inflammatory status including the presence of hyperplastic pulp stroma; and (iii) formation of hard and/or ectopic connective tissue.