Morphological, chemical and structural characterisation of deciduous enamel: SEM, EDS, XRD, FTIR and XPS analysis

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ABSTRACT

Aim

The purpose of this study was to characterise the enamel surface of sound deciduous teeth in terms of morphology,
chemical composition, structure and crystalline phases.

Methods

The enamel of 30 human deciduous teeth was
examined by: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD),
Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). Chemical differences between incisors
and canines were statistically evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test (p 0.05).

Results

Three enamel patterns were observed
by SEM: 'mostly smooth with some groves', 'abundant microporosities' and 'exposed prisms'. The average Ca/P molar ratios were
1.37 and 1.03 by EDS and XPS, respectively. The crystallite size determined by XRD was 210.8216.78 . The mean ratio
between Ca bonded to phosphate and Ca bonded to hydroxyl was approximately 10:1.

Conclusion

The enamel of sound deciduous
teeth showed two main patterns: 'mostly smooth with some groves' and 'abundant microporosities'. 'Exposed prisms' was a secondary
pattern. There were slight variations among the Ca/P molar ratios found by EDS and XPS, suggesting differences in the mineral content
from the enamel surface to the interior. The crystalline phases found in enamel were hydroxyapatite and carbonate apatite, with major
type B than type A carbonate incorporation.

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