Application of Scanning Acoustic Microscopy for Detection of Dental Caries Lesion

Introduction: A scanning acoustic microscope (SAM) is an apparatus for imaging acoustic properties. This apparatus can non-invasively and rapidly evaluate the hardness of materials in the elastic region. This device shows great potential for the diagnosis of dental caries in the clinical setting. However, since the tissue elastic modulus measured using a SAM is a property of the elastic region and the Knoop hardness is a property of the plastic region, the hardness properties differ completely. Therefore, we investigated whether the acoustic impedance measured using a SAM is related to the Knoop hardness, which is used as the standard for removal of carious dentin. Method: Polished sections were prepared from 20 extracted carious wisdom teeth. The acoustic impedance and Knoop hardness were measured for each section. In addition to comparing carious and healthy dentin in SAM images, we evaluated the difference between the carious and healthy dentin in terms of the acoustic impedance and Knoop hardness. We also evaluated the correlation between the Knoop hardness and acoustic impedance. Results: The SAM images were visualized as two-dimensional color images based on the acoustic impedance values. The mean acoustic impedance of carious dentin was significantly lower than that of healthy dentin, showing a similar trend as Knoop hardness. A strong correlation was observed between the two. Discussion: The acoustic impedance values obtained through acoustic microscopy differed significantly between carious and sound dentin. Both types of dentins were visualized using two-dimensional color images. A strong correlation was observed between the acoustic impedance value, which indicates the hardness of the elastic region, and the Knoop hardness, which indicates the hardness of the plastic region. The results of the present study indicate that acoustic impedance accurately reflects the hardness of dentin.

Infrared Spectroscopy of Titania Sol-Gel Coatings on 316L Stainless Steel

Sol-gel titania films were deposited on 316L stainless steel using titanium isopropoxide as a chemical precursor. Dip-coating was performed at withdrawal speeds of 6 mm/min, 30 mm/min, and 60 mm/min. Deposited gel films were heat treated in air at 80℃, 100℃, 300℃, and 400℃. The structural evolution of the coatings was evaluated by infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy. The influence of the withdrawal speed and the heat treatment temperature on the structure of the films was studied by varying the reflectance incidence angle during the infrared experiments and by Glow Discharge Spectrometry. Free functional groups were detected. The results indicate the formation of bidendate bridging coordination of carboxylic acid to titanium. Titanium atoms can also be pentacoordinated according to the processing conditions of the films. We observed a tendency of increasing amounts of OH groups with decreasing reflectance incidence angle. The film hardness was measured via Knoop microindenation hardness test.