Previous studies have shown that the caries detector dyes, basic fuchsin an
d acid red, lack specificity. Accordingly, their clinical use can lead to t
he unnecessary removal of sound tissue. In the present study, the specifici
ty of three further dyes, Carbolan Green, Coomassie Blue and Lissamine Blue
was studied. Carious dentine was removed in vitro by means of rotary instr
uments until the cavities were deemed caries free by conventional clinical
criteria. Experimental dyes were applied to the cavity floors, all of which
became stained. Stained dentine was removed from half the cavity by means
of a burr, the other half remaining as a control. Further stain was then ap
plied and the procedure repeated until no further reduction of the staining
of the cavity floor could be achieved. Light microscopy of ground sections
of experimental teeth showed that sound tissue had been removed unnecessar
ily from the experimental half of the cavity due to the lack of specificity
of these dyes. This lack of specificity of staining was similar to basic f
uchsin and acid red. Only Carbolan Green showed possible differential stain
ing between control and experimental sites, but this was not caries specifi
c. If a clinically useful dye is to be developed, it would need to specific
ally stain either bacteria in infected dentine and/or the carious degradati
on products of dentine matrix.