Characterization of dentin and enamel by use of optical coherence tomography

Abstract

Optical coherence tomographic images of human dentin and enamel are obtained by use of polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography. A birefringence effect in enamel (lambda = 856 nm) and light propagation along dentinal tubules are observed. The group index of refraction for both dentin and enamel was measured at 1.50 +/- 0.02 and 1.62 +/- 0.02, respectively.