Quantitative analysis of the mineral content of sound and carious primary dentine using BSE imaging

Abstract

Backscattered electron-scanning electron microscope (BSE-SEM) imaging has been recommended as a reliable tool to quantify the mineralisation state of calcified tissues and is commonly used in bone studies. The aim of this study is to investigate the use of BSE imaging to quantitatively analyse the mineral content of sound and carious dentine. Eight primary molars with untreated carious dentine were embedded in resin, axially sectioned and fine polished for this study. The BSE images were from a solid-state detector in an SEM operating at 1.5Torr gas pressure. BSE images of a number of different elements and compounds with atomic number ranged from 4 to 26 were analysed prior to the test to c..