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An Automated Digital Microradiography System for Assessing Tooth Demineralization
Cynthia L Darling1, Charles Q Le, John D B Featherstone
1University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143-0758.
Proceedings of Spie--The International Society for Optical Engineering
|September 22, 2011
Summary
Digital microradiography accurately measures mineral loss in teeth. This rapid, high-resolution imaging method offers advantages over traditional film techniques for dental research.
Area of Science:
- Dental research
- Biomaterials science
- Radiology
Background:
- Traditional film-based microradiography has limitations.
- Digital Transverse Microradiography (TMR) offers real-time imaging and linearity.
- Digital TMR eliminates the need for expensive specialized film.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a high-resolution digital microradiography system for mineral loss assessment.
- To measure volume percent mineral loss in sound and demineralized enamel and dentin.
- To compare digital microradiography with microhardness measurements.
Main Methods:
- A custom digital microradiography system with ~2-microm spatial resolution was utilized.
- The system included a digital x-ray imaging camera, motion control, and a copper Kα x-ray source.
- Volume percent mineral content was determined for tooth sections.
Main Results:
- The digital microradiography system accurately measured mineral content in enamel and dentin sections.
- An excellent correlation (Pr=0.99) was found between microhardness and microradiography.
- Linear attenuation was observed with exposure times from 1-10 seconds.
Conclusions:
- Digital TMR is an effective and rapid method for assessing mineral content in tooth sections.
- The high-resolution digital system provides accurate mineral loss measurements.
- This technology offers significant advantages over film-based methods.
