Over 50 years ago, Fusayama and
Massler independently showed that the
dentine caries lesion could be divided
into two layers.12–14 The layer closest to
the opening into the cavity defined as
‘outer carious dentine’ or ‘infected dentine’
is a soft, infected biomass that has no
sensation and is largely incapable of being
remineralised. As such it is of no further
structural use to the tooth and therefore
should be removed