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Biomedical subjects

D G Nelson

Publications and source records attributed to D G Nelson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Microstructural features of carious human enamel imaged with back-scattered electrons.

We have used back-scattered electrons (BE) in the scanning electron microscope to produce mineral density images of enamel. Flat surfaces of artificially-carious enamel, softened in an intra-oral experiment, and naturally-carious (white spot) enamel were polished to a high gloss with diamond lapping compound, rendering them almost featureless by secondary electron scanning electron microscopy. They were then examined at 10 to 30 kV in a Philips 505 instrument fitted with a 4-quadrant BE detector. Study of surfaces prepared approximately parallel to the natural surface showed that mineral was lost from both prism core and the interprismatic region, leaving a thin mineral-rich rim at the prism periphery. The same lesions viewed longitudinally on a surface prepared perpendicular to the natural surface showed mineral-rich bands at the prism margins in the outer enamel. Near the advancing front of the lesion, the prism junctions were widened and the prism cores sometimes hypermineralized. Natural lesions sectioned in the prism long axis showed features previously seen with other techniques, e.g., cross-striations and striae of Retzius, but in much greater detail. Mineral enrichment at the prism periphery in the lesion body and a widening of the prism junction at the advancing fronts of lesions in permanent teeth were most obvious. Calculations showed that with an accelerating voltage of 30 kV, the images reflected mineral density up to 4 microns beneath the surface. BE microscopy produces a high-resolution image of mineral loss or gain in carious enamel, with relatively easy sample preparation.

Dental Caries↗
PubMed1989

Macroscopic and scanning electron microscopic appearance and hardness values of developmental defects in human permanent tooth enamel.

Defects present in 12 human permanent teeth were classified on the basis of their macroscopic appearance as hypoplasia (three teeth), diffuse opacities (three teeth), white demarcated opacities (one tooth but two defects), or yellow demarcated opacities (five teeth but six defects). The hardness values and SEM appearance of the defective enamel were determined after the teeth were sectioned through the lesion(s) and were distinctive for each type of defect. The thin enamel of the hypoplastic lesions was either opaque (with reduced hardness values) or translucent (with near-normal hardness values and sometimes a change in prism orientation external to an incremental line). The enamel of the diffuse and demarcated opacities was of normal thickness. The changes in the macroscopic and SEM appearance, and the reduced hardness values of the diffuse patchy opacities, were restricted to the outer 150 microns of the enamel. The demarcated opacities varied in position and depth, and in places had a clearly marked boundary with the adjacent normal enamel. Hardness values were related to color change, with yellow lesions being softer than white. Although prism direction was normal within demarcated opacities, prism outlines were less distinct. The findings suggest that temporary and permanent dysfunction of ameloblasts can occur in both secretory and maturation phases, influencing the final appearance of the lesion.

Dental Enamel↗
PubMed1989

Recent uses of electron microscopy in the study of physico-chemical processes affecting the reactivity of synthetic and biological apatites.

Studies which used scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to investigate subsurface demineralization of dental enamel have recently been well reviewed. The purpose of the present paper was to review several studies, carried out in our laboratories, which have used electron microscopy to examine physicochemical properties of synthetic and biological apatites, to relate these results to previous studies, and to present new data. Aspects of the ultrastructure of hydroxyapatite and carbonated-apatites have been observed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and related to shape and growth of these crystals. Surface morphologies of discs prepared from precipitated carbonated-apatites and from ceramic carbonated-apatites were examined by SEM and the information was used in the interpretation of apatite dissolution studies relevant to dental caries. Improvements in the technique of backscattered electron imaging of demineralized enamel have enabled better interpretation of enamel caries experiments. SEM examination of enamel and dentin treated by low energy lasers of specific wavelengths have shown that lasing conditions can be chosen that produce surface fusion of the apatite which inhibits caries-like lesion progression. SEM examination of crystals formed on and in enamel during high concentration fluoride treatments implies that calcium fluoride-like crystals are formed and they may act as a slow-release fluoride reservoir in the mouth.

Apatites↗
PubMed1988

Quantitative analysis of early in vivo tissue response to synthetic apatite implants.

Studies have shown synthetic calcium phosphates such as hydroxyapatite and beta tricalcium phosphate to be biocompatible in vivo. However, few studies have quantitated histological responses to the implants. The aim of this study was to develop a method for the quantitative assessment of tissue biocompatibility to ceramic materials in vivo and to use this method to compare noncarbonated and carbonated apatite implants. Synthetic sintered apatites of 0, 3, and 6% carbonate by weight were prepared and cut into implants 4 X 4 X 1 mm. These were placed 2 mm into the medial aspect of rat femurs. Following sacrifice at 4 weeks, the femurs were fixed in formalin, demineralized in formic acid, and embedded in glycol methacrylate. Sections were cut on an ultramicrotome set at 1.5 micron and stained with toluidine blue. A point counting technique using standard stereological grids and a low-power microscope was used to measure areas of new bone formation. The width of the connective tissue zone adjacent to muscle was measured using an image analyzer. All implants were well accepted by the host tissues judging from criteria of minimal inflammation and degree of fixation. Results showed an increase in new bone formed in the marrow cavity with increasing carbonate content. This may improve stability of the implant in the host bone, particularly during the initial healing period. A technique which should enable quantitative histological evaluation of different ceramic materials has been developed. The use of this method indicates that further studies are warranted to investigate carbonated apatite as an implant material.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Crystallographic structure and surface morphology of sintered carbonated apatites.

Densely sintered synthetic hydroxyapatite (HA) is used as an implant material because of its excellent tissue biocompatibility. In order to maximize the biological potential of this calcium phosphate, we have investigated the incorporation of carbonate into HA to make a material which more closely resembles the mineral found in bones and teeth. The aim of the present study was to determine the conditions under which sintered carbonated apatites of specific carbonate content could be produced. The apatites were prepared by heating compressed pellets of precipitated carbonated apatite under a carbon dioxide/steam or nitrogen/steam atmosphere between 825 and 1050 degrees C. The products were analyzed chemically and the surfaces examined by x-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, reflected light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that carbonate loss during sintering could be reliably predicted, making it possible to produce materials with specific carbonate content, and with specific physical and chemical composition.

Carbonates↗
PubMed1988

The macroscopic and scanning electron-microscopic appearance and microhardness of the enamel, and the related histological changes in the enamel organ of erupting sheep incisors resulting from a prolonged low daily dose of fluoride.

The hypothesis that diffuse opacities in enamel result from a chronic, mild disturbance to ameloblast activities was tested using fluoride. Three sheep (HF) were dosed orally with 0.5, and 3 (LF) with 0.2 mg fluoride/kg body weight daily for 6 months. A control sheep (C) received no additional fluoride. The 7 sheep were killed at or close to the time of emergence of their permanent central incisors. One tooth from each sheep was sectioned longitudinally. The enamel related to the secretory (S) and maturation (M) phases of ameloblast activity at the start of fluoride dosing was determined from a tetracycline marker. The pattern of mineralization of the outer 150 micron of the cut labial enamel was assessed using microhardness testing. The SEM appearance of the acid-etched outer enamel was compared in S and M zones in 5 teeth. The enamel of the C tooth was translucent. Diffuse opacities, similar in appearance to human fluorosis, were present in all fluoride-treated teeth. Hardness values in the outer 70 micron of the enamel decreased as the fluoride dose increased and, in the HF teeth, were lower in the S zone than in the M zone. Fluoride given during the M phase induced a surface hypomineralization which increased in degree and depth when fluoride was also given during the S phase. The SEM appearance of M and S enamel was similar in 2 LF and 1 HF teeth but, in the other HF tooth, S enamel but not M enamel had a disordered prism structure and loosely-packed crystals in an abnormal organic matrix. Histological examination revealed that ameloblasts remained in only 4 of the 7 teeth and that their regression and the formation of the cementum adjacent only to the labial enamel were progressing abnormally.

Ameloblasts↗
PubMed1988

In vivo comparison of caries inhibition by a plaque mineral enriching mouthrinse and a fluoride dentifrice.

Six subjects wore lower-arch intra-oral appliances supporting plaque-covered enamel units in the left and right buccal sulci. Units on both sides received identical cariogenic challenges by intermittent immersion in 0.28 M glucose. When one side was treated, in addition, with a mouthrinse designed to enrich plaque with Ca, P, and F, there was a 76% reduction in the softening and a 96% reduction in the porosity, created in enamel by the glucose exposures. F dentifrice extract, used similarly, caused a 67% reduction in enamel softening and a 93% reduction in porosity. When the two treatments were compared in the same experiment, the mouthrinse had a significantly greater effect in limiting enamel softening, but the porosity measurement technique was not sensitive enough to confirm this finding. Use of the mouthrinse caused variable deposition of fluorhydroxyapatite in plaque, and scanning electron microscopy examination of enamel showed small adherent hard deposits in some subjects. The polished enamel surface enabled backscattered electron imaging which revealed preferential dissolution of the core and tail regions of the prism. The results suggest that plaque mineral enrichment may be even more effective than F dentifrice in preventing dental caries.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

The structure of (100) defects in carbonated apatite crystallites: a high resolution electron microscope study.

Planar defects parallel to (100) with an approximate [1/400] displacement vector have been identified by high resolution transmission electron microscopy and by micro-electron diffraction in the center of synthetic carbonated apatite crystallites. Similar intergrowths, 0.8-1.5 nm in width, have been observed in dental enamel, dentin and bone apatite crystallites. Four possible structural models of the defect core are proposed to explain these experimental features, and computer-simulated lattice images of the models are compared with the experimental images. Typical defects were consistent with a two-dimensional octacalcium phosphate inclusion, one unit cell thick, embedded in an apatite matrix.

Apatites↗
PubMed1985

Influence of repeated APF applications on long-term remineralization of initial lesions in bovine enamel.

Initial lesions in bovine enamel were remineralized in vitro for periods lasting from one hour to two weeks; in some cases, remineralization was interrupted daily for a ten-minute APF application. After two weeks, surface coatings appeared on APF-treated specimens; SEM and TEM observations, including selected area and micro-electron diffraction, indicated both a layered structure within these coatings, and the predominance of calcium fluoride single crystals, ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 micrometer in size. Using double (45 Ca and 32 P) labeled remineralizing solutions, we obtained depth profiles of deposited labeled calcium and phosphate; these indicated that repeated APF applications prevented inward penetration of calcium and phosphate and limited the deposition of these ions to an outer surface region corresponding to the surface coating. These phenomena are explained in terms of the composition and apparent reactivity of the coating.

Acidulated Phosphate Fluoride↗