Oral Health Cooperative Research Centre, Melbourne Dental School, Bio 21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, 720 Swanston Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia.
J Dent Res. 2012 Feb;91(2):185-91. doi: 10.1177/0022034511429570. Epub 2011 Nov 17.
White-spot enamel lesions are an early presentation of dental caries and are ideally managed by non-invasive procedures. The aim of this study was to characterize white-spot enamel lesions by x-ray microtomography. In particular, mineral content across the lesion from the surface to the base of the lesion was measured and surface layers defined. Molars with long buccal white-spot enamel lesions were collected, photographed, and each sectioned to produce 3 500-µm-thick sections. The sections were mounted and imaged by quantitative x-ray microtomography at a 15-µm voxel size. We analyzed line profiles through the middle of each 3D image to determine mineral content and depth. The surface layer thickness of the lesions ranged from 35 to 130 µm, with the maximum mineral content in this layer being 74% to 100% of that of sound enamel. The average mineral content across the lesions ranged from 1.73 to 2.48 g/cm(3). No significant differences could be found between lesions clinically categorized as active and those categorized as inactive. However, for depth-matched active and inactive lesions, the active lesions exhibited a more porous surface layer than the inactive lesions. White-spot enamel lesions are highly variable, with surface layers of considerable thickness.
白斑釉质病变是龋齿的早期表现，理想的治疗方法是采用非侵入性的程序。本研究的目的是通过 X 射线显微断层扫描来描述白斑釉质病变。特别是，从病变表面到病变底部测量了病变的矿物含量，并定义了表层。收集了具有长颊侧白斑釉质病变的磨牙，对其进行拍照，并将每个牙体切成 3500µm 厚的切片。将切片用定量 X 射线显微断层扫描以 15µm 的体素大小进行成像。我们通过每个 3D 图像的中间分析线轮廓来确定矿物含量和深度。病变的表层厚度范围为 35 至 130µm，该层的最大矿物含量为正常釉质的 74%至 100%。病变的平均矿物含量范围为 1.73 至 2.48g/cm³。在临床上被归类为活跃和不活跃的病变之间没有发现显著差异。然而，对于深度匹配的活跃和不活跃的病变，活跃的病变比不活跃的病变具有更多孔的表层。白斑釉质病变高度可变，表层厚度相当大。
