Non‐carious cervical lesions: a scanning electron microscopic study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Examining non-carious cervical lesions using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provides an opportunity to clarify their complex aetiology. This study aimed to examine the morphological forms of non-carious cervical lesions found within a sample of extracted human permanent anterior teeth using scanning electron microscopy. METHODS: Five examples of non-carious cervical lesions from each of eight different morphologic categories were replicated and examined using scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: In total, 40 non-carious cervical lesions were examined at magnifications ranging from 10x to 2605x magnification. Qualitative ultrastructural features evident in the lesions were described and classified according to their appearance. A total of 13 different qualitative features were observed throughout the sample of NCCLs. CONCLUSIONS: SEM highlighted a broad range of microscopic features of NCCLs, providing valuable insights into their complex, multifactorial aetiology.