• Moazzez, Rebecca
• Macaulay, G.
• Bartlett, David
• Giusca, C. L.
• Austin, Rupert Sloan

Abstract

<p>Objectives. This paper investigates the application of confocal laser scanning microscopy to determine the effect of acid-mediated erosive enamel wear on the micro-texture of polished human enamel in vitro.</p><p>Methods. Twenty polished enamel samples were prepared and subjected to a citric acid erosion and pooled human saliva remineralization model. Enamel surface microhardness was measured using a Knoop hardness tester, which confirmed that an early enamel erosion lesion was formed which was then subsequently completely remineralized. A confocal laser scanning microscope was used to capture high-resolution images of the enamel surfaces undergoing demineralization and remineralization. Area-scale analysis was used to identify the optimal feature size following which the surface texture was determined using the 3D (areal) texture parameter Sa.</p><p>Results. The Sa successfully characterized the enamel erosion and remineralization for the polished enamel samples (P &lt;0.001).</p><p>Significance. Areal surface texture characterization of the surface events occurring during enamel demineralization and remineralization requires optical imaging instrumentation with lateral resolution</p>

Topics

• surface
• hardness
• texture
• confocal laser scanning microscopy