W.L. Jongebloed

MORPHOLOGY, HISTOLOGY AND CRYSTALLOGRAPHY OF HUMAN DENTAL ENAMEL TREATED WITH PULSED LOW-ENERGY INFRARED-LASER RADIATION

The surface morphology of human enamel treated with pulsed, infrared laser radiation was examined using reflected light and scanning electron microscopy. Thin (

Morphology of Enamel Surfaces Treated with Topical Fluoride Agents: SEM Considerations:

Three topical fluoride agents deposited surface coatings of different morphology and thickness on intact human enamel surfaces. The agents studied were an acidic silane fluoride lacquer, a neutral NaF lacquer, and an APF gel. Each agent reacted with the enamel surface differently, producing its own distinctive etching pattern. The smallest particles observed in the surface coatings were from 20 to 30 nm in diameter and appeared to have indistinct morphologies. They often agglomerated into spherical globules ranging from 1-3 μm in diameter.

REMINERALIZATION OF BOVINE DENTIN INVITRO - THE INFLUENCE OF THE F-CONTENT IN SOLUTION ON MINERAL DISTRIBUTION

In this paper remineralization of bovine dentine is reported. After demineralization of the dentine in an acidic gel system creating lesions of about 180 microns depth, the tissue was remineralized in a 1.5 mM Ca and 0.9 mM phosphate containing solution at pH 7 and 37 degrees C for 8 or 21 days. The F content in the remineralization solution was 0.02, 2, or 10 ppm as NaF. Samples were analyzed by means of microradiography and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that remineralization (without F added in solution) causes a decrease in mineral loss and in lesion depth. With 2 or 10 ppm in solution, however, a substantial mineral accumulation in the lesion, but particularly on the original dentine surface, was observed. During 3 weeks of remineralization, mineral accumulations of 67 and 70 vol% of mineral for 2 and 10 ppm F in solution, respectively, were found near the original outer surface, with the sound dentine mineral value being 48 vol%. The combined microradiography and scanning electron microscopy data show that the mineral accumulated is for a major part deposited on the dentine tissue and partly inside. The latter deposition occurred both inside the tubules as well as in the intertubular areas. Inside the tubules dense precipitates were observed. Because several differences exist between bovine and human dentine, an extrapolation to the human in vivo situation is speculative. The results indicate that the presence of fluoride in the parts per million range is important for dentine remineralization efficacy and that the outer surface area in dentine can be overremineralized.

DENTIN CARIES INVIVO - COMBINED SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC AND MICRORADIOGRAPHIC INVESTIGATION

Dentine subjected to an in vivo demineralization challenge by plaque looses substantial amounts of mineral and is expected to change its ultrastructure. Results are presented of a combined microradiography and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) study on in vivo demineralized human dentine. The tissue was first demineralized in vivo under plaque for 3 weeks and subsequently analyzed by microradiography and SEM. In 6 participants dentine was positioned in a full prosthesis just under M2 in such a way that the outer surface of the tissue was 1.5 mm lower than the surface of the prosthesis; plaque accumulation takes place in the recessed area. A special technique allows SEM observations (at a given distance from the outer surface) on broken thin sections of demineralized dentine with a mineral content determined by microradiography. The results show that the ultrastructure of the dentine changes during severe demineralization. The main ultrastructural features are, however, still largely intact, even if half of the mineral originally present has been lost. In dentine with a mineral content of about 25 vol%, the dentinal tubules are enlarged by about 30%. In vivo demineralized dentine looses mineral in substantial amounts both from intertubular and from peritubular regions.

Crystallographic Structure of Enamel Surfaces Treated with Topical Fluoride Agents: TEM and XRD Considerations

The crystallographic structure of surface coatings produced by three topical fluoride agents deposited by a single application on intact human enamel surfaces was investigated by light- and dark-field transmission electron microscopy, as well as by electron and x-ray diffraction. The agents studied were an acidic silane fluoride lacquer, a neutral NaF lacquer, and an APF gel. The smallest coherently diffracting particles were CaF2 microcrystallites 4-15 nm in diameter. Large apatite-like crystals, approximately I μm in length, were also observed in the outer surface coating produced by the silane fluoride lacquer.

REMINERALIZATION OF HUMAN DENTIN INVITRO

In this paper the in vitro remineralization of human dentine with 0, 0.5, 2 and 10 ppm F in the remineralization solution is presented and analyzed by microradiography. Furthermore, the remineralization data of human and bovine dentine are quantitatively compared. The main results of this paper are: (1) the efficacy of human (and bovine) remineralization is about proportional to the square root of the F level in the remineralizing solution, and (2) the amount of mineral effectively deposited in the dentine is most likely controlled by the diffusion of fluoride into the tissue. This study shows furthermore that although numerical differences exist in the remineralization of human and bovine dentine, the general remineralization behaviour is quite similar. The presence of F- in the parts per million range is essential for the remineralization efficacy in vitro and also for the overremineralization of the outer dentine surface.

Enamel defects associated with tuberous sclerosis: A clinical and scanning-electron-microscope study

The clinical and scanning-electron-microscope appearances of enamel defects in six patients with tuberous sclerosis are described. The pit-shaped enamel defects seem to be pathognomonic of the disease. The detection may be an important help in the early diagnosis of this complex syndrome.

Rate and Mechanism of Enamel Demineralization in situ

In this paper, data are presented on the in situ demineralization of human enamel as a function of the demineralization period. To quantify the mineral loss parameters versus time, it is important to obtain information on the kinetics, and thus on the mechanism of dental caries. The results show that for in situ enamel demineralization, the lesion depth as well as the mineral loss parameter both vary linearly with the demineralization time. This is in contrast to in vitro lesion formation where the third power, or the square power of the lesion depth is linearly related to the demineralization time. In in situ demineralization, the rate-determining step of the demineralization process is the inhibitor-controlled dissolution process at the enamel crystallite surfaces, while the inhibitor content (F-, proteins etc.) in the lesion originating from the plaque, saliva and enamel is high. Furthermore, the study indicates that in in situ demineralization, interprismatic mineral loss is very important.

Diffusion of carbon-14-labeled formocresol and glutaraldehyde in tooth structures

14C-Formocresol and 14C-glutaraldehyde were placed in the root canals of freshly extracted human teeth. The outward diffusion of labeled aldehydes was then measured and autoradiograms of cross-sections taken. No diffusion of glutaraldehyde was detectable within 72 hours, whereas there was a rapidly increasing outflow of formocresol during the same period. In a separate group normal root canal treatment was completed until 2 mm. short of the roentgenologic apex with glutaraldehyde as an irrigant. The walls of the root canals of some of the specimens were examined with electron microscopy and the outflow of 14C-formocresol which was later placed in some specimens was counted. The use of glutaraldehyde as an irrigant resulted in closure of the apical third of the root canal as indicated by the absence of 14C-formocresol diffusion.

Combined Raman and SEM study on CaF2 formed on/in enamel by APF treatments.

Raman spectra containing the distinct band at 322 cm-1 due to CaF2 or CaF2-like material formed in/on fluoridated bovine enamel were recorded using a micro-Raman spectrograph. Due to increasing levels of background fluorescence with increasing thickness of enamel, the Raman measurements were carried out on thin regions of wedged enamel sections. The distribution of the CaF2 or CaF2-like material was estimated using a simple model. The results indicate that 1/3 of the total CaF2 was concentrated within the narrow depth < 2 microns with high CaF2 concentrations (> 10 wt%), and that the majority of the CaF2 was distributed over the depths up to 26 microns (1 wt% CaF2). SEM observations on fractured fluoridated enamel confirmed that morphological changes were present in the depth range comparable to that of the high CaF2 concentration region expected from the Raman analysis. In deeper regions where lower concentration (< 10%) but a large amount of CaF2 was still expected, the SEM images failed to distinguish between the normal and fluoridated enamel. After KOH treatment, the Raman spectra did not show evidence of the CaF2 peak and the SEM micrographs also confirmed the removal of globules. The peak position of the Raman band of the CaF2 formed by the fluoridation was identical to that of pure CaF2. However, the linewidth was 23 cm-1 (FWHM) and a factor of 2 broader than that of pure CaF2 (12 cm-1). This implies that the lattice dynamics of the CaF2 formed by fluoridation is different from of pure CaF2, and that the material formed is CaF2-like or disordered CaF2.