Abstract
The aim of this study was to clarify the relation between calcification and crystallization occurring in the immature bovine enamel and dentin. The calcification process was semi-quantified using monochromatic X-ray microradiography and expressed as pseudo-color mapping for the polished thin sections. The crystallographic properties for the thin sections were carried out using two micro X-ray diffraction methods; i) PSPC-type micro-diffractometer for the precise lattice parameters measurement and ii) IP-type micro-diffractometer for the crystal orientation analysis. The quantification analysis showed the clear calcification progress from the incisal to cervical regions in the immature enamel, whereas did not show the remarkable changes in the dentin. The obtained calcification patterns were in accordance with the reported data. The crystallographic data obtained by the micro-diffraction methods showed the differences in the crystal content, crystallization degree and crystallites orientation from part to part in the developing enamel but not in harmony with the calcification progress. These results indicated that the crystallization pattern in tooth enamel was independent apart from the calcification process, i.e., the calcification process was the accumulation of the inorganic materials and the crystallization process was really the crystallizing of the accumulated inorganic materials.
