Effects of Heat-treatment and ⁶⁰Co γ-ray Irradiation on Human Teeth

Abstract

Effects of heat-treatment and ⁶⁰Co γ-ray irradiation on human teeth were examined by Wide Angle X-ray Diffraction (WAXD) and Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS). Heat-treatment increased the intensity of SAXS. This suggests that heating altered the scattering centers in a large amount of collagen.
Irradiation doses of 10⁷ to 10⁸R decreased the intensity of SAXS. However, further irradiation up to 10⁹R increased the intensity of SAXS. The former phenomenon arises from the decrease in difference of electron density between organic and mineral compositions. The latter arises from the newly separated amorphous particles from the original collagen materials.