Automatic quantitative analysis of ore content of human tooth enamel based on image processing

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Li, Shuyu | Hu, Kuanghu^; | Su, Wanfang | Cai, Nian | Hu, Ming | Hu, Yingxiong

Affiliations: Institute of Biophysics Academia Sinica, Beijing 100101, P.R. China | Peking Union Medical Sciences College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100034, P.R. China | China National Software and Technology Company, Beijing 100081, P.R. China

Note: [] Corresponding author: Kuanghu Hu, Institute of Biophysics Academia Sinica, 15 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, P.R. China. Tel.: +86 10 64888589; Fax: +86 10 64877837; E‐mail: [email protected].

Abstract: Introducing the theory of fuzzy set, mathematical morphology and computerized mask fast scanning, we developed the TOOTH.SCA software and method to analyze the effect of fluoride (NaF) on ore content of human tooth enamel automatically and quantitatively. And we obtained some characteristic parameters, such as the depth, the type and the demineralized content of every scathing layer of dental caries. The smallest scale of mask scanning is 0.1 μm × 0.1 μm and the time required to analyze a sample is only 12 s. The applied software and method we built play an important role to the research on the mechanism of pathological changes of teeth and preventing dental caries.

Keywords: Human tooth enamel, mineral matter, fluoride, image information processing, mask scanning

Journal: Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 363-371, 2003