Dental Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Dental, including details on implants, health, hygiene, cosmetic, dentistry. | ||||||||
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Three-dimensional study of human dental fissure enamel by synchrotron X-ray microtomography.Dowker SE, Elliott JC, Davis GR, Wilson RM, Cloetens P Institute of Dentistry, Barts and The London, Queen Mary's School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK. The three-dimensional morphology of human tooth fissures and the quantification of mineral distribution in fissure enamel are pertinent to the development and diagnosis of caries. Synchrotron X-ray microtomography was used to measure linear attenuation coefficients (at 25 keV) at high spatial resolution with a volume-imaging element (cubic voxel) of 4.9 x 4.9 x 4.9 microm(3) in a block from a human premolar that included part of a stained fissure. From the linear attenuation coefficient, the mineral concentration, expressed as g(HAp) cm(-3) (where HAp is stoichiometric hydroxyapatite), was calculated. The mean mineral concentration in bulk enamel was 2.84 g(HAp) cm(-3). Well-defined regions (1.5-2.6 g(HAp) cm(-3)), extending up to approximately 130 microm from the base of some narrower lengths of the fissure and up to approximately 50 microm deep from the fissure surface, were attributed to hypomineralization. Other regions of low mineral concentration, some (1.4-2.3 g(HAp) cm(-3)) lying within the expected course of the fissure base and some (2.2-2.7 g(HAp) cm(-3)) deep to the pit, were also considered to be of developmental origin. However, a diffuse distribution of low mineral concentrations (2.2-2.7 g(HAp) cm(-3)) in the pit walls was attributed primarily to demineralization from caries. The fissure contained heterogeneous material (</= 0.5 g(HAp) cm(-3)) exhibiting partial mineralization. Published 5 May 2006 in Eur J Oral Sci, 114: 353-9.
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