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Optical spectroscopy and imaging of the dentin–enamel junction in human third molars
Author(s) -
Gallagher R. R.,
Demos S. G.,
Balooch M.,
Marshall G. W.,
Marshall S. J.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of biomedical materials research part a
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 150
eISSN - 1552-4965
pISSN - 1549-3296
DOI - 10.1002/jbm.a.10436
Subject(s) - enamel paint , dentin , materials science , molar , human tooth , autofluorescence , dental enamel , mineralized tissues , dentistry , optics , composite material , medicine , fluorescence , physics
A 351‐nm laser excitation source was used to perform autofluorescence microscopy of dentin, enamel, and the dentin–enamel junction (DEJ) to obtain information regarding their morphology and spectral characteristics. The emission spectra of these calcified dental tissues were different from one another, and this enabled the DEJ to be imaged and dimensionalized. The DEJ displayed sharp and clearly delineated borders at both its enamel and dentin margins. The dentinal tubules and the enamel prisms appeared to terminate abruptly at the DEJ. The median DEJ width was 10 μm, ranging from 7 to 15 μm, and it did not appear to depend on intratooth position. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 64A: 372–377, 2003