title: High resolution electron microscopy of the initial mineral deposition on enamel surface.
abstract: The human partially impacted third molar was used to investigate the initial stage of dental calculus on enamel surface. The thin layer of mineral deposition consisted of needle-like crystals. High resolution electron microscopy (HREM) revealed that these crystals directly contacted each other. Electron diffraction represented that needle-like crystals of calculus consisted of hydroxyapatite (OH-AP). These findings indicate that the high calcium (Ca) x inorganic phosphate (Pi) ion-product condition in an extremely narrow and closed environment produces the stable OH-AP precipitates and that the growth of calculus crystals is thought to advance through the additional mineralization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy (I), Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayashi
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D003460:Crystallization; D003728:Dental Calculus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D017886:Durapatite / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D017886:Durapatite; D002118:Calcium