CARIOUS AND REMINERALISED ENAMEL;

Abstract

Objectives: The main purpose of this study was to determine from wherethe demineralisation of crystals occur in enamel during carious process and where the newcrystals will form during remineralization. Material and Methods: Synchrotron x-ray diffractiontechnique was used to determine the crystal orientation and texture of enamel for a Period: of02 years during 2010 and 2011. It was done on extracted teeth. 10 sides of a single tooth wereanalysed and a total of 100 teeth were examined. Sample analysis was done using compositeimaging and powder diffraction using Fit 2D software. Settings: The study was done at QueenMary University of London, Miles End Campus England. Sections of a tooth were taken having1) healthy control enamel 2) natural carious enamel 3) artificially demineralized enamel and4) artificially remineralized enamel. Synchrotron x-ray diffraction was carried out and twodimensional images of the areas of the tooth were collected. A 20μmx20μm beam spot wasused to collect images at high resolution in order to see the changes that occur in a smallregion of interest. First the Fit2D software was used for powder diffraction data processingand later Origin software was used obtain the texture values of the above mentioned areas.Results: Comparison of the side and cuspal both for the control and carious enamel showedthat the carious enamel has a better texture than the control enamel. Also a repetition of thepattern after every 60 to 100um was seen in the cuspal enamel both in the control and cariousenamel respectively. Conclusion: The natural carious enamel showed a better texture andmore orientation from the healthy control enamel. This indicates that the continuous processesof demineralization and remineralization which occur in enamel during caries may have someeffects in increasing the texture of enamel since the mineral left in the carious enamel has ahigher degree of crystallite orientation than the control enamel.