Micro Topographical Analysis of Enamel of Human, Bovine and Goat Incisors- An Atomic Force Microscopic Study

Abstract

Background: The enamel surface features have not been much explored when compared to its sectional features. The microanalysis can provide information to characterize and devise better restorative materials and also to detect diseases.
Aim: To examine the 3-D atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of human, bovine and goat teeth and look into their micromorphology to micro characterize the surface features of their enamel.
Materials and methods: The enamel of the tooth samples are limited into single layers using Isomet 1000 precision Saw manual. The quantitative examination of the enamel surface roughness is analyzed using the non-contact mode of Atomic Force microscopy(AFM). The generated Three dimensional image of enamel is used for the study of variations from the nano to micro scale.
Result: The surface roughness was determined using three-dimensional 30 um scan images of the tooth samples and were visualized using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The surface roughness parameters of the membranes were expressed in terms of the mean roughness (Sa), Root mean square of the surface (Sq), the mean difference between the highest peaks and lowest valleys (Sz) of the membrane surface were calculated using Nanosurf C300 software, based on mathematical expressions.

Conclusion: AFM investigated the topography of dental tissues in a typical healthy tooth using stereometric analysis and provided quantitative information about surface shape and roughness.An accurate understanding of surface micromorphology related to interface morphology, thermodynamic properties, nanoscale surface-fluid interactions, surface energy, biochemical potential gradients, heat transfer, and surface flaws can be gained from stereometric and fractal analyses of human, bovine and goat incisor teeth.