Light propagation in dentin: influence of microstructure on anisotropy

We investigated the dependence of light propagation in human dentin on its microstructure. The main scatterers in dentin are the tubules, the shape of which can be approximated as long cylinders. We calculated the scattering of electromagnetic waves by an infinitely long cylinder and applied the results in a Monte Carlo code that simulates the light propagation in a dentin slab considering multi-scattering. The theory was compared with goniometric measurements. A pronounced anisotropic scattering pattern was found experimentally and theoretically. In addition, intensity peaks were measured which are shown to be caused by light diffraction by the tubules.