title: Characterization of healthy and fluorotic enamel by atomic force microscopy.
abstract: The aim was to characterize the external structure, roughness, and absolute depth profile (ADP) of fluorotic enamel compared with healthy enamel. Eighty extracted human molars were classified into four groups [TFI: 0, control (C); 1-3, mild (MI); 4-5, moderate (MO); 6-9, severe fluorosis (S)] according to the Thylstrup-Fejerskov Index (TFI). All samples were analyzed by atomic force microscopy.The mean values of enamel surface roughness (ESR) in nm were: Group C, 92.6; Group MI, 188.8; Group MO, 246.9; and Group S, 532.2. The mean values of absolute depth profile in nm were: C, 1,065.7; MI, 2,360.7; MO, 2,536.7; and S, 6,146.2. The differences between mean ESR and mean ADP among groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05). This structural study confirms at the nanometer level that there is a positive association between fluorosis severity, ESR, and ADP, and there is an association with the clinical findings of fluorosis measured by TFI as well.
authors.affiliation: Advanced General Dentistry Program, San Luis Potosí University, México.
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zavala-Alonso
authors.forename: Gabriel A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Martínez-Castanon
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Patiño-Marín
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Terrones
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Anusavice
authors.forename: Juan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Loyola-Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods; D008963:Molar / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013499:Surface Properties