Objective: Confocal laser scanning Microscopy (CLSM) is relatively a new light microscopical imaging technique with a wide range of applications in biological sciences. The primary value of CLSM for the biologist is its ability to provide optical sections from a three-dimensional specimen. The present study was designed to assess the thickness and content of in vivo accumulated dental plaque using CLSM and scanning electron Microscopy (SEM).Materials and Methods: Acroflat lower arch splints (acrylic appliance) were worn by five participants for three days without any disturbance. The formed plaques were assessed using CLSM combined with vital fluorescence technique and SEM.Results: In this study accumulated dental plaque revealed varied plaque microflora vitality and thickness according to participant’s oral hygiene. The thickness of plaque smears ranged from 40.32 to 140.72 mm and 65.00 to 128.88 mm for live (vital) and dead accumulated microorganisms, respectively. Meanwhile, the thickness of plaque on the appliance ranged from 101 mm to 653 mm. CLSM revealed both dead and vital bacteria on the surface of the dental plaque. In addition, SEM revealed layers of various bacterial aggregations in all dental plaques.Conclusion: This study offers a potent non-invasive tool to evaluate and assess the dental plaque biofilm, which is a very important factor in the development of dental caries.

The invention of the microscope was a great help to science to reach a new extension, especially biology. By employing microscopes, the researchers were able to prove new dimensions of living such as a microorganism, work, and cell study, and go in-depth of the minute part of fungi, plants or even the animals. In the mid-20th century, the electron was a great help and opened a new horizon. The scanning microscopes are even more delicate and sophisticated and also have higher magnification power compared to light microscopes. Basically, microscopes utilize the simply visible rays which refract the lenses, X-rays, electron, and infrared rays. In addition, they are designed to detect smaller and smaller particles and structures. Further, scanning electron microscopes are capable of resolving viruses which are extremely smaller than any microorganism and cell, they can enlarge the view of small viruses, which allows the researcher and scientists to develop the cure or a new vaccine for related diseases in animals or even humans. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopes have the power of magnification even till million times, almost molecule size, viruses and also nanoparticles. Moreover, they use software for correcting and enhancing the magnification and resolution of the image. The software helps to view the desired objects even if they are a few molecules thick. This mini-review extensively discusses each type and their different available classifications.

Background: Microscopy is a resource used in endodontics as an aid in the study of pulp and periapical pathologies, it has allowed Endodontics to become more accurate, less invasive and has enabled greater chances of success in treatment. We aimed to map the scientific production on “, Microscopy”,and “, endodontics”,in the databases, the ISI Web of Knowledge/Web of Science tm. Methods: This bibliometric survey was conducted using ISI Web of Knowledge/Web of Science database, in the time frame between the years 1945 and 2016, the first being found in 1981. Results: Overall, 287 articles were identified. These articles are published in 63 different journals and were written by 1145 authors who have links to 336 institutions, located in 46 countries. To achieve these articles, 5, 668 references were used, with an average of approximately 20 references per article. In the national literature the number of studies on the subject is broad compared to the international literature. Conclusion: The bibliometric review showed the potential of Microscopy in clinical practice, the continuity of the investigation, in view of the need to expand knowledge on the topic that remains relevant.