Healthy vs. Carious Tooth Anatomy: Dentin and Odontoblast Structure Explained #3049552 (License: Personal Use)

The image displays three cross-sectional views: a healthy tooth with intact dentin and organized odontoblasts, an early carious lesion (A-site) showing demineralization and bacterial invasion into dentin, and an advanced lesion (R-site) where reparative dentin forms and inter-odontoblastic cells activate. Key structures-including odontoblast cell bodies, their processes extending into dentinal tubules, and surrounding connective tissue-are color-coded for clarity. The progression illustrates the biological defense mechanisms during caries development.

Used in dental education, patient brochures, or clinical websites to explain caries pathogenesis and pulp response; targets students, dentists, and patients seeking to understand tooth decay at the histological level.