METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF MATURITY OF HUMAN TEETH ENAMEL BY ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY Russian patent published in 2022 - IPC A61B6/00 

FIELD: medicine; dentistry.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to medicine, dentistry; it can be used for highly accurate determination of a level of resistance and maturity of human teeth enamel for quantitative assessment of a degree of maturation and mineralization of teeth enamel by an ultramicroscopic picture of a mineral component and determination of predisposition to a carious process. Obtained digital ACM images are subjected to computer processing in Image Analysis NT-VDT program, a length and a width of enamel prisms are measured by histograms in a field of view of 100*100 nm. In a field of view of an atomic force microscope, there are prisms of a large size, characterized by more tight packaging relatively to each other, where their surface is smoother, with a regular arc shape and is typical for mature enamel. Small enamel prisms are weakly ordered, they are similar to different ugly geometric shapes, which are typical for immature enamel. Thus, enamel prisms with a length of 5.36-5.70 nm and a width of 4.51-4.91 nm characterize a high level of maturity of a mineral component and a high degree of maturation and mineralization of teeth enamel, a high indicator of resistance and a low level of predisposition to the carious process. Prisms with a length of 5.07-5.35 nm and a width of 4.14-4.50 nm indicate an average level of packaging of the mineral component and an average level of maturation and mineralization of teeth enamel, an average indicator of resistance and a questionable level of predisposition to the carious process. Prisms with a length of less than 5.06 nm and a width of less than 4.13 nm indicate a low level of packaging of the mineral component and a low level of maturation and mineralization of teeth enamel, a low indicator of resistance and a high level of predisposition to the carious process.

EFFECT: method provides an increase in the accuracy and objectivity of determination of a degree of maturity, resistance of human teeth enamel, and predisposition to a carious process.

1 cl, 3 ex