Hierarchical 2D to 3D micro/nano-histology of human dental caries lesions using light, X-ray and electron microscopy

DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2022.110829

Authors: Cyril Besnard (MBLEM, University of Oxford) , Ali Marie (MBLEM, University of Oxford) , Petr Buček (TESCAN-UK Ltd) , Sisini Sasidharan (MBLEM, University of Oxford) , Robert A. Harper (University of Birmingham) , Shashidhara Marathe (Diamond Light Source) , Kaz Wanelik (Diamond Light Source) , Gabriel Landini (University of Birmingham) , Richard M. Shelton (University of Birmingham) , Alexander Korsunsky (MBLEM, University of Oxford)
Co-authored by industrial partner: No

Type: Journal Paper
Journal: Materials & Design , VOL 394

State: Published (Approved)
Published: June 2022
Diamond Proposal Number(s): 29256 , 30666

Abstract: Dental caries is a widespread disease that damages teeth by heterogeneous dissolution. Conventional histology identifies different zones within carious lesions by their optical appearance, but fails to quantify the underlying nanoscale structural changes as a function of specific location, impeding better understanding of the demineralisation process. We employ detailed collocative analysis using different imaging modalities, resolutions and fields of view. Focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) reveals subsurface 3D nanostructure within milled micro-sized volumes, whilst X-ray tomography allows less destructive 3D imaging over large volumes. Correlative combination of these techniques reveals fine detail of enamel rods, inter-rod substance, sheaths, crystallites and voids as a function of location. The degree of enamel demineralisation within the body of the lesion, near its front, and at the surface is visualized in 3D. We thus establish the paradigm of dental 3D nano-histology as an advanced platform for quantitative evaluation of caries-induced structural modification.

Journal Keywords: Correlative imaging; Human carious enamel; Light microscopy; FIB-S(T)EM; Image analysis 2D/3D; Synchrotron X-ray tomography

Subject Areas: Biology and Bio-materials

Diamond Offline Facilities: Electron Physical Sciences Imaging Centre (ePSIC)
Instruments: E01-JEM ARM 200CF , I13-2-Diamond Manchester Imaging

Added On: 09/06/2022 10:27

Discipline Tags:

Dentistry Health & Wellbeing Life Sciences & Biotech

Technical Tags:

Imaging Microscopy Spectroscopy Tomography Electron Microscopy (EM) Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS)