Abstract
Micro computed tomography (Micro CT) is an imaging technique widely used for visualizing the internal structure of objects using the x-ray attenuation method. As it enables non-destructive, noninvasive evaluation and three-dimensional analysis, it is useful for various studies of human hard tissues. Most hypophosphatasia cases exhibit early loss of primary teeth, however findings of Micro CT analysis of them have not been reported. The purpose of the present study was to describe the mineral density distribution of exfoliated teeth with hypophosphatasia using Micro CT. Each two exfoliated teeth of mandibular primary central incisors gained from 2 hypophosphatasia patients were investigated for enamel and dentin mineral densities. Mineral density distribution revealed that the case 1 were lower than the homonymous teeth case 2 in the region of enamel edge in enamel and dentinoenamel junction in dentin. These results suggested that hypophosphatasia patients had the variety of hypomineralization in the primary dentition. The investigations using Micro CT is useful for various studies of human hard tissues gained from patients since it enables non-destructive, noninvasive evaluation.
