Dentin micro-architecture using harmonic generation microscopy

Elbaum, R.; Tal, E.; Perets, A.I.; Oron, D.; Ziskind, D.; Silberberg, Y.; Wagner, H.D.

doi:10.1016/j.jdent.2006.07.007

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Volume 35, Issue 2 , Pages 150-155, February 2007

Dentin micro-architecture using harmonic generation microscopy

R. Elbaum
- Department of Materials and Interfaces, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
E. Tal
- Physics of Complex Systems, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
A.I. Perets
- Department of Materials and Interfaces, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
D. Oron
- Physics of Complex Systems, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
D. Ziskind
- Department of Prosthodontics, Hadassah School of Dental medicine, The Hebrew University P.O. Box 12272, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
Y. Silberberg
- Physics of Complex Systems, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
H.D. Wagner
- Department of Materials and Interfaces, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +972 8 934 2594.

Received 20 February 2006; received in revised form 2 July 2006; accepted 4 July 2006.

Abstract

Objectives

We present a novel way to create high-resolution three-dimensional images of tooth dentin by harmonic generation scanning laser microscopy.

Methods

The images were taken using a pulsed infrared laser. Three-dimensional reconstruction enables the visualization of individual tubules and the collagen fibrils mesh around them with an optical resolution of ∼1μm.

Results

The images show micro-morphological details of the dentinal tubules as well as the collagen fibrils at a depth of up to about 200μm. The data show that while collagen fibrils are organized in planes perpendicular to the tubules, close to the dentin enamel junction they lie also along the long axis of the tubules.

Conclusions

The unique 3D information opens the opportunity to study the collagen fibril arrangement in relation to the tubule orientation within the dentin matrix, and may be applied to study the micro-morphology of normal versus altered dentin.

Keywords: Dentin, Harmonic generation microscopy, Tubules, Collagen fibrils, Three-dimensional imaging