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High-resolution electron microscopic study of salivary calculus
H Tohda1, K Yamakura, T Yanagisawa
1Department of Ultrastructural Science, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan.
Journal of Electron Microscopy
|October 1, 1995
Summary
This study examined salivary calculus crystals using high-resolution electron microscopy. Hydroxyapatite and whitlockite crystals were identified in well-calcified areas of the calculus.
Area of Science:
- Dental Science
- Crystallography
- Materials Science
Background:
- Salivary calculus, a calcified deposit on teeth, impacts oral health.
- Understanding its crystalline structure is crucial for dental treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the crystalline composition of salivary calculus.
- To analyze crystal morphology and distribution using advanced microscopy techniques.
Main Methods:
- High-resolution electron microscopy (HREM) for detailed imaging.
- Electron diffraction analysis for crystal structure identification.
- Microradiography (MR) to assess mineralization and internal structure.
Main Results:
- Salivary calculus exhibited complex shapes and mineralization with multiple nuclei.
- Hydroxyapatite (HA) crystals were observed in diverse sizes and distributions.
- Intermingling of HA and whitlockite (WH) crystals was noted in well-calcified regions.
Conclusions:
- Salivary calculus contains a mixture of hydroxyapatite and whitlockite crystals.
- The crystalline structure varies with the degree of mineralization.
- Detailed crystallographic analysis provides insights into calculus formation.