Light Microscope Study of the Effect of Probing in Occlusal Surfaces

TLDR

The study investigated whether using a dental explorer can create traumatic defects in occlusal fissures. The authors examined 10 young men with newly erupted third molars, randomly probing one tooth per pair with an explorer, extracting it after a week, and then serially sectioning the teeth for stereomicroscopic analysis of 196 ground sections. Defects appeared in 60 % of experimental sections versus 7 % of controls, with defect size positively correlated to enamel opacity area, indicating that sharp explorers can cause irreversible traumatic defects in demineralized occlusal fissures that may promote lesion progression.

Abstract

This study aimed at examining whether tactile examination with an explorer may produce traumatic defects in occlusal fissures. The study was carried out in 10 young male adults each of whom was due to have one pair of newly erupted third molars to be extracted. One randomly selected molar in each pair was clinically examined with a dental explorer and the teeth extracted after 1 week. The teeth were serially sectioned and a total of 196 ground sections were examined in a stereomicroscope. Defects were observed in 60% of the sections from experimental teeth in contrast to 7% in the control sections. There was a positive correlation between the size of the defect and the area of enamel opacity which again was associated with the surface morphology. Results indicate that classical use of sharp explorers may produce irreversible traumatic defects in demineralized areas in occlusal fissures favouring conditions for isolated lesion progression.