Dental Caries: Difference between Infected and Affected Dentin
🔎 Dental Caries: Difference between Infected and Affected Dentin
When dental caries progress into dentin, not all decayed tissue is the same. Clinically, it is crucial to differentiate between infected dentin (which must be removed) and affected dentin (which can be preserved). Understanding the difference helps in practicing minimal intervention dentistry (MID) and conserving tooth structure.
✅ Key Differences:
| Feature | Infected Dentin | Affected Dentin |
|---|---|---|
| Bacterial invasion | Heavily invaded with bacteria | Demineralized but not invaded by bacteria |
| Texture | Soft, leathery, flakes easily | Softer than normal but does not flake easily |
| Collagen structure | Irreversibly denatured | Collagen cross-linking remains intact |
| Remineralization potential | Cannot be remineralized | Can be remineralized |
| Caries-detecting dyes | Stains positive | Does not stain |
🦷 Clinical Importance:
- Infected dentin → must be removed to eliminate bacterial load and prevent progression.
- Affected dentin → should be preserved as it has the potential to remineralize, thus supporting minimally invasive dentistry and pulp vitality preservation.
