A System of Calibrating Microtomography for Use in Caries Research

Vol. 43, No. 4, 2009

Free Abstract Article (References) Article (PDF 271 KB)

Original Paper

A System of Calibrating Microtomography for Use in Caries Research
D.R. Schwass^a, M.V. Swain^a, D.G. Purton^a, J.W. Leichter^b

Departments of
^aOral Rehabilitation and
^bOral Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand

Address of Corresponding Author

Caries Res 2009;43:314-321 (DOI: 10.1159/000226230)

Key Words

Caries detection
Dentine caries
Enamel caries
Microcomputed tomography
Microtomography
Radiographic phantoms, calibration

Abstract

Desktop microcomputed tomography (micro-CT) offers a non-invasive 3-dimensional analysis of structures and their physical properties. To date, the use of micro-CT has mostly involved qualitative observations, with the extent of quantitative analysis relying on automated internal calibration by the micro-CT control software. However, the value of such calibration is limited by machine drift. For an accurate quantitative use of micro-CT, it is recognized that external means of calibration are needed. A novel system of calibration standards, also known as ‘phantoms’, is presented. A range of low mineral concentration phantoms involving triethylene glycol dimethacrylate/glycerolate dimethacrylate resin mixed with commercial pure hydroxyapatite (HAP), from 0.07 to 1.05 g/cm³, was fabricated. Sintered HAP was impregnated with the same resin, producing phantoms with medium-level mineral concentrations up to 1.90 g/cm³. These phantoms were easy to create, proved accurate and stable with repeated use, and were found to mimic the composite nature of dental enamel and dentine structures under investigation.

Author Contacts

D.R. Schwass
Department of Oral Rehabilitation
Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, 280 Great King Street, PO Box 647
Dunedin 9054 (New Zealand)
Tel. +64 3 479 7125, Fax +64 3 479 5079, E-Mail DonSchwass@xtra.co.nz

Article Information

Received: October 7, 2008
Accepted after revision: April 16, 2009
Published online: June 24, 2009
Number of Print Pages : 8
Number of Figures : 5, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 40

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