Microcomputed Tomography Calibration Using Polymers and Minerals for Enamel Mineral Content Quantitation

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this paper was to develop calibration standards (CSs) that are readily available for clinical researchers for the quantitation of enamel mineral content. Method:Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), acetal, polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), selenite, Egyptian alabaster, aragonite, and fluorite were fashioned into discs, and their densities were measured and stacked for microcomputed tomography examination. Frame averaging, flat-field correction, pre-filtration, and beam-hardening correction were applied. CSs were checked for homogeneity. The linear relationship between the mean greyscale value (GSV) of each disc and its physically calculated density was explored, and reproducibility was tested. A calibration function was established and then validated using a bovine enamel disc and sound enamel of extracted human premolar teeth. Results: Measured densities were PET (ρ = 1.38 g/cm³), acetal (ρ = 1.41 g/cm³), PPS (ρ = 1.64 g/cm³), selenite (ρ = 2.24 g/cm³), Egyptian alabaster (ρ = 2.7 g/cm³), aragonite (ρ = 2.72 g/cm³), and fluorite (ρ = 3.11 g/cm³). Examination of the profile sections of CSs confirmed the uniformity of GSVs with minimal beam-hardening effect. A squared Pearson correlation coefficient of R² = 0.994 was determined between the mean GSV of each CS and its calculated density and was reproduced at different settings with R² >0.99. A linear regression equation of density (y) versus GSV (x) was established using the least squares regression equation method. The estimated density of the bovine enamel disc (2.48 g/cm³) showed high accuracy when compared to the physically measured value (2.45 g/cm³). The ­relative error was 1.2%. Densities of sound enamel in the extracted human premolar teeth were 2.6–3.1 g/cm³. Conclusions: This is a simple, valid, and reproducible method to quantitate enamel mineral content. This simple, yet accurate system could be used to expand knowledge in the field of enamel caries research.