Detection of microbial-derived fatty acids in carious dentin by gas chromatography and gas chromatography mass spectrometry

The aim of the present study was to analyze the fatty acid content of carious and sound human dentin. Gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed the presence of fatty acids of C-10-C-18 size in the carious dentin, whereas fatty acids of C-16 size were present in minute amounts in three samples of the corresponding sound dentine controls. No fatty acids were detected in the other sound dentin control samples. The source of fatty acids was considered to be microorganisms invading the dentin during the progression of the caries lesion. The presence of bacterial fatty acids in carious dentin may serve as a marker for the pathological process and thus contribute to the understanding of the mechanisms involved. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.