What makes chalky teeth crumble? - Towards scanning high-resolution 3D-XRD

Molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) is a worldwide growing developmental dental condition in paediatric dentistry with a prevalence of up to 44 %. MIH-teeth are highly prone to fracture and caries as hardness, elasticity, and acidic resistance of the enamel barrier are deteriorated. It is unclear why the mechanical properties with respect to the mineral phases are so significantly compromised. Sound enamel exhibits high stiffness and hardness. The drastic difference indicates structural changes in MIH. In this experiment we aim to target the orientation of hydroxyapatite (HAP) crystallites in MIH-affected enamel in comparison to sound enamel with high-resolution scanning 3D-XRD. This experiment will reveal the hidden HAP crystallite orientation distribution in real 3D volume and provide information on the degree of mis-orientation in MIH-enamel on the nano-scale, eventually, shedding light on the disturbed amelogenesis process in MIH.