Robert C. Lee

Abstract

Purpose: This in vitro study compared the radiopacity between human primary and permanent enamel and dentin. It also compared the radiopacity between human anterior and posterior teeth.

Methods: Extracted primary and permanent teeth were used in this study. One mm enamel and one mm dentin slices were cut from each extracted tooth. Radiographs were taken of each enamel and dentin specimen 1 mm in thickness along with an aluminum step-wedge using procedures specified in International Standards Organization (ISO) 4049:2000. A densitometer was used to measure the Optical Density (OD) of the radiographs of the specimen and the accompanying aluminum step-wedge. The final results were quantified as Millimeter Aluminum Thickness Equivalent (mmAl) and compared by using the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney rank sum test at the significance level of α = 0.05.

Results: Permanent enamel was found to be more radiopaque than primary enamel (p = 0.042), and permanent posterior enamel was found to be more radiopaque than permanent anterior enamel (p = 0.002). There was no statistically significant difference in radiopacity between primary and permanent dentin (p = 0.102); or between permanent anterior and posterior dentin (p = 0.976).

Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated there may be statistically significant differences in radiopacity between primary and permanent teeth and between anterior and posterior teeth.

LLU Discipline

Pediatric Dentistry

Department

Pediatric Dentistry

School

Graduate Studies

First Advisor

Frank Robert Traficante

Second Advisor

Richard Grabowsky

Third Advisor

Jay Kim

Fourth Advisor

J. Todd Milledge

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

2008

Date (Title Page)

9-2008

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Pediatric Dentistry -- dissertations; Radiography, Dental; Comparative Study; Dental Enamel -- radiography; Dentin -- radiography; Tooth, Artificial; Tooth, Deciduous; Dental Materials

Type

Thesis

Page Count

ix; 22

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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