title: Optical spectroscopy and imaging of the dentin-enamel junction in human third molars.
abstract: A 351-nm laser excitation source was used to perform autofluorescence microscopy of dentin, enamel, and the dentin-enamel junction (DEJ) to obtain information regarding their morphology and spectral characteristics. The emission spectra of these calcified dental tissues were different from one another, and this enabled the DEJ to be imaged and dimensionalized. The DEJ displayed sharp and clearly delineated borders at both its enamel and dentin margins. The dentinal tubules and the enamel prisms appeared to terminate abruptly at the DEJ. The median DEJ width was 10 microm, ranging from 7 to 15 microm, and it did not appear to depend on intratooth position.
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering Graduate Group, University of California at San Francisco/University of California at Berkeley, San Francisco/Berkeley, California, USA.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Gallagher
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Demos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balooch
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Marshall
mesh_terms: D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003804:Dentin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007834:Lasers; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008964:Molar, Third / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence