Non-destructive Microstructural Evaluation of Intact and Restored Human Teeth Using Tabletop X-Ray $$\upmu $$CT System

This study explores the feasibility of a micro-focus based tabletop X-ray \(\upmu \)CT system for the micro-structural characterization of human teeth and later its application to the non-destructive evaluation of teeth restored with different composite resin for their interface integrity and micro-imperfections. In the first part of this study, extracted human primary and permanent molar teeth were used to explore potential of micro-focus based tomography setup for their micro-structural characterization. The details of root canal structure of human teeth were visualized and quantified with polychromatic \(\upmu \)CT. In the second part identification and comparison of defects in a set of six human teeth samples, which were restored with two different composite resins, was carried out. Group ‘A’ samples were restored using a submicron hybrid composite material and Group ‘B’ were restored with a Nano-hybrid restorative composite material. The quantitative analysis of \(\upmu \)CT data for composite resin restored teeth showed more number of voids or defects in Group ‘A’ restorations compared to Group ‘B’. A comparative evaluation of \(\upmu \)CT techniques based on synchrotron source and micro-focus source is also illustrated to show their respective merits and limitations.