2006 Volume 6 Issue 4 Pages 423-427
Fractographic analysis was performed on root-fractured tooth by analyzing three-dimensional structure constructed from SEM images. Human fractured tooth was observed using SEM and quantitatively analyzed using a newly introduced image analysis method, in which a cross-angle between surfaces could be determined using stereo pair of SEM images. The result showed that the angle between the lumen of the pulpa dentis and the fractured surface ranged from 100°-135° in the area where dentinal tubles were abundant while ca. 100° near the root of tooth where dentinal tubles were less observed. The angle between fractured surfaces was ca. 110°, which was independent on the position. This result indicates that there would be a significant correlation between the direction of crack path and the presence of dentinal tubles. The proposed method should be useful to evaluate failure analysis of tooth.
