Transparency and Light Scattering of Dental Hard Tissues

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Measurements of the transparency of different areas of moist tooth sections were made by means of a photoelectric cell fastened on the ocular of a microscope. The changes in transparency were observed after drying and after immersing the sections in the liquids with known refractive indices. Avg. values and normal variations were reported for light transmission by several different areas of dental hard tissue. Transparency of dentin was not correlated with the moisture or ash percentage of the area. The transparency of normal dentin was dependent upon the refractive index of the media filling the tubule and was greatest when the refractive indices of the tubules and matrix were the same (1.56); dentin modifications which had become transparent in the mouth were similarly affected but to a lesser degree. The findings support the hypothesis that dentin becomes transparent in vivo because of calcific deposits within the tubules and that the deposits resemble cementum in their degree of calcification.

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit: