TY - JOUR
T1 - 3D analysis of enamel demineralisation in human dental caries using high- resolution, large field of view synchrotron X-ray micro-computed tomography
AU - Besnard, Cyril
AU - Harper, Robert
AU - Moxham, Thomas
AU - James, Jonathan
AU - Storm, Malte
AU - Salvati, Enrico
AU - Landini, Gabriel
AU - Shelton, Richard
AU - Korsunsky, Alexander
PY - 2021/6
Y1 - 2021/6
N2 - We report major advances in the analysis of synchrotron 3D datasets acquired from human healthy and carious dental enamel. Synchrotron tomographic data for three human carious samples and a non-carious reference tooth sample were collected with the voxel size of 325 nm for a total volume of 815.4 × 815.4 × 685.4 μm3. The results were compared with conventional X-ray tomography, optical microscopy, and focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy. Clear contrast was seen within demineralised enamel due to reduced mineral content using synchrotron tomography in comparison with conventional tomography. The features were found to correspond with the rod and inter-rod structures within prismatic enamel. 2D and 3D image segmentation allowed statistical quantification of important structural characteristics (such as the aspect ratio and the cross-sectional area of voids, as well as the demineralised volume fraction as a function of lesion depth). Whilst overall carious enamel predominantly displayed a Type 1 etching pattern (preferential demineralisation of enamel rods), a transition between Type 2 (preferential inter-rod demineralisation) and Type 1 was identified within the same lesion for the first time. This study does not provide extensive results on the different lesions studied, but illustrate a new method and its potential application.
AB - We report major advances in the analysis of synchrotron 3D datasets acquired from human healthy and carious dental enamel. Synchrotron tomographic data for three human carious samples and a non-carious reference tooth sample were collected with the voxel size of 325 nm for a total volume of 815.4 × 815.4 × 685.4 μm3. The results were compared with conventional X-ray tomography, optical microscopy, and focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy. Clear contrast was seen within demineralised enamel due to reduced mineral content using synchrotron tomography in comparison with conventional tomography. The features were found to correspond with the rod and inter-rod structures within prismatic enamel. 2D and 3D image segmentation allowed statistical quantification of important structural characteristics (such as the aspect ratio and the cross-sectional area of voids, as well as the demineralised volume fraction as a function of lesion depth). Whilst overall carious enamel predominantly displayed a Type 1 etching pattern (preferential demineralisation of enamel rods), a transition between Type 2 (preferential inter-rod demineralisation) and Type 1 was identified within the same lesion for the first time. This study does not provide extensive results on the different lesions studied, but illustrate a new method and its potential application.
KW - Demineralisation
KW - Dental caries
KW - Enamel
KW - Optical and (focused ion beam) scanning electron microscopy
KW - Synchrotron
KW - X-ray micro-computed tomography
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85107846963&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2021.102418
DO - 10.1016/j.mtcomm.2021.102418
M3 - Article
SN - 2352-4928
VL - 27
JO - Materials Today Communications
JF - Materials Today Communications
M1 - 102418
ER -