INTRODUCTION: Non-contact optical interference profilometry (OIP) is a tool which may provide more information than SEM for examining dentin. It has the potential to quantitate in both the vertical and lateral dimensions. OBJECTIVES: to assess OIP's usefulness for quantitating the fine structure of dentin and to determine the effects of treatments. MATERIALS & METHODS: Coronary dentin discs were etched for about 15 seconds by exposure to 5% citric acid and then examined by a ZYGO NewView 5000 OIP. Quantitative aspects of surface features such as tubule morphology and slope were estimated and roughness measured before and after dentifrice treatment. RESULTS: The profilometer clearly reveals tubule openings into the dentin. In some cases the depth of view within the tubule reaches 3µ below the surface. Cutting coronal discs rarely results in the tubules reaching the surface at a 90^o angle. The profilometer has the useful ability to quantitate the angle at which the tubules reach the surface to within about 5^o precision. The profilometer also reveals that around the openings of the tubules in etched discs there is a low wall which averages about 200-300nm in height but can be as little as 30 or over 1000nm. Brushing sometimes but not always changes the roughness index. In some cases occlusion of tubules is apparent. CONCLUSIONS: OIP is a useful tool for assessing the morphology of dentin and the effects of dentifrice treatment.

Back to the Mineralized Tissue Program
Back to the ADEA/AADR/CADR Meeting & Exhibition (March 8-11, 2006)

Top Level Search