DIGITAL IMAGE-ANALYSIS ASSISTED MICRORADIOGRAPHY - MEASUREMENT OF MINERAL-CONTENT OF CARIES LESIONS IN TEETH

This study investigated the feasibility of using a digital image analysis system to process the information contained in microradiographs of tooth sections that included dental caries lesions. The results show that by using an aluminum step wedge to provide a range of thickness standards and a sound area of the sample as an internal reference, data on tooth mineral content as a function of the location can be obtained with an estimated error of less than 5% relative to the mineral content of sound area. This microradiographic technique allows the response of tooth samples to a remineralization treatment to be quantitatively measured and statistically analyzed.