EFFECT OF SUCROSE AND XYLITOL DIETS ON DENTIN FORMATION AND CARIES INRAT MOLARS

To investigate the effects of a high sucrose diet and xylitol on secon dary dentinogenesis and dentinal caries, a part of the sucrose in a hi gh-cariogenic diet was replaced by xylitol. Fifty-four 3-wk-old Wistar rats were labeled with tetracycline and divided into groups. One grou p received a high sucrose diet (43% sucrose). In two other groups 5% a nd 20% of the sucrose was replaced by xylitol. A control group receive d non-cariogenic food. Six weeks later the mandibles were sectioned sa gittally. Schiff staining was used to classify the caries, and the are as of dentin formed during the experiment and dentinal caries in first and second molars were measured planimetrically. The high sucrose die t reduced dentin formation of the molars, and this reduction was furth er increased by xylitol. Caries initiation and dentinal caries progres sion were significantly reduced by 20% xylitol, whereas only a slight reduction in caries progression was observed with 5% xylitol. Also, a negative correlation between the dentin formation and dentinal caries progression was observed in the high sucrose and 5% xylitol groups. In conclusion, xylitol together with high sucrose reduced dentin formati on and dentinal caries progression, and the effect was dose-dependent.