Scanning electron microscopy and electron probe microanalyses of the crystalline components of human and animal dental calculi

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Scan. Microsc.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6994986

LeGeros, R Z; Orly, I; LeGeros, J P; Gomez, C; Kazimiroff, J; Tarpley, T; Kerebel, B

A review of the use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron probe microanalyses in the study of dental calculus showed that such studies provided confirmatory and supplementary data on the morphological features of human dental calculi but gave only limited information on the identity of the crystalline or inorganic components. This study aimed to explore the potential of combined SEM and microanalyses in the identification of the crystalline components of the human and animal dental calculi. Human and animal calculi were analyzed. Identification of the crystalline components were made based on the combined information of the morphology (SEM) and Ca/P molar ratios of the crystals with the morphology and Ca/P molar ratio of synthetic calcium phosphates (brushite or DCPD; octacalcium phosphate, OCP; Mg-substituted whitlockite, beta-TCMP; CO/sub 3/-substituted apatite, (CHA); and calcite. SEM showed similarities in morphological features of human and animal dental calculi but differences in the forms of crystals present. Microanalyses and crystal morphology data suggested the presence of CaCO/sub 3/ (calcite) and CHA in the animal (cat, dog, tiger) and of OCP, beta-TCMP and CHA in human dental calculi. X-ray diffraction and infrared (IR) absorption analyses confirmed these results. This exploratory study demonstrated that by taking into consideration what is known about the crystalline components of human and animal dental calculi, combined SEM and microanalyses can provide qualitative identification.

• Research Organization: New York Univ. Dental Center, NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6994986
• Journal Information: Scan. Microsc.; (United States), Journal Name: Scan. Microsc.; (United States) Vol. 2:1; ISSN SCMIE
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ANIMALS
CALCIUM COMPOUNDS
CALCIUM PHOSPHATES
CALCULI
CATS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
COHERENT SCATTERING
CRYSTALS
DENTISTRY
DIFFRACTION
DOGS
ELECTRON MICROPROBE ANALYSIS
ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
MAMMALS
MAN
MEDICINE
MICROANALYSIS
MICROSCOPY
MORPHOLOGY
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHATES
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PRIMATES
SCATTERING
VERTEBRATES
X-RAY DIFFRACTION