Optimization of image acquisition of dental enamel microstructure in intact teeth. Effect of varying the direction of incident light and transparent film on the surface of the enamel.

• Grant number: 22/09019-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: September 01, 2022
• End date: August 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Sergio Roberto Peres Line
• Grantee: Eduardo Carneiro Navarro Diniz
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba (FOP). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Human dental enamel is the most mineralized tissue in the body and is formed by alternating layers of prisms called Hunter-Schreger Bands (HSB). HSBs appear as light and dark bands when viewed with side lighting, resembling fingerprints. We previously demonstrated that the HSB pattern is highly variable, and unique to each tooth. Thus, the biometric pattern of HSB can be a useful method for personal identification, since the enamel can withstand extreme weather and environmental conditions. Although promising, the popularization of this method is hampered by technical limitations in image acquisition. One of the main problems lies in the fact that the pattern of the bands can suffer small variations with changes in the direction of the incident light. In this way, the present project aims to understand and estimate the variations in the pattern of the HSB images caused by variations in the direction of the incident light.