Sunday, March 24, 2013

Angmar et al. (J Ultrastruc Res, 1963): data on mineral volume and birefringence of normal enamel

   The article by Angmar et al. (J Ultrastruct Res, 8:12-23, 1963) is one of the most important references on the mineral volume and birefringence of human normal dental enamel of permanent teeth. Below follow the raw data extracted from the graphs published in the figures of the original article. Mineral volume is based on a mineral density of 3.15 gcm-3, but can be converted to a mineral density of 2.99 gcm-3 using the following equation (Elliott et al., Connect Tis Res, 38:61-72, 1998)


V(2.99) = 0.954913 V(3.15)+ 0.1057567 (1)
   For the convertion, it must be used mineral volume fraction instead of percent mineral volume (eg.: 0.91 instead of 91%). Using mineral volume (based on a density fo 2.99 gcm-3) and birefringence in water is possible to quantify the organic and water volumes (see Eqs. 1-7 of Sousa et al., J Microsc, 221:79-83, 2006). Using birefringence in air is possible to quantify loosely and firmly bound water volumes (Eqs. 1-7 of Sousa et al., J Microsc 2006). Exercising the calculations is useful to learn how to quantify biochemical volumes at specific histological points. Such data are useful for a wide range of applications in enamel research.   

Raw data of Angmar, B., Carlström, D. & Glas, J.E. (1963) Studies on the ultrastructure
of dental enamel. IV. The mineralization of normal human enamel. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 8, 12–23:

(V1 = mineral volume; BRágua = enamel birefringence in water x 10-4; BRar = enamel birefringence in air x 10-4)

Tooth a
Distance from surface (micron)1002003004005006007008009001000110012001300
V185,62585,62585858583,7583,7583,7584,37584,37584,3758585
BRágua-20-21,25-23,75-23,75-22,5-22,5-22,5-21,25-20-18,75-17,5-17,5-18,75
BRar-18,75-17,5-15-10-5-2,507,52,52,51,250-5
Tooth b
Distance1002003004005006007008009001000110012001300
V186,2586,2586,87586,87586,87586,87586,2586,2586,2585,625858583,75
BRágua-26,25-26,25-27,5-27,5-26,25-26,25-27,5-26,25-25-23,75-22,5-23,75-17,5
BRar-25-23,75-20-17,5-15-12,5-12,5-11,25-11,25-10-7,5-5-5
Tooth c
Distance1002003004005006007008009001000110012001300
V191,2590,6259089,37588,7587,587,586,7258584,375
BRágua-23,75-23,75-22,5-22,5-22,5-21,25-20-18,75-17,5-15
BRar-17,5-15-10-7,5-5-2,5-2,52,53,757,5
Tooth d
Distance1002003004005006007008009001000110012001300
V189,37588,7587,586,258584,37583,7583,12582,582,581,87581,2581,25
BRágua-25-25-26,25-27,5-26,25-22,5-22,5-22,5-20-20-20-18,75-17,5
BRar-21,25-20-15-10-52,55553,753,753,752,5
Tooth e
Distance1002003004005006007008009001000110012001300
V188,17587,586,87586,2585,62584,37583,7583,7583,12583,7583,75
BRágua-22,5-22,5-22,5-22,5-23,75-22,5-20-18,75-17,5-17,5-15
BRar-21,25-17,5-15-11,12-7,5-51,257,5101010
Tooth f
Distance1002003004005006007008009001000110012001300
V187,586,87586,2585,62586,2585,62586,2586,258585
BRágua-25-26,25-26,25-25-23,75-23,75-23,75-22,5-20-18,75
BRar-16,25-15-11,25-7,5-5-6,25-6,25-6,25-5-2,5
Tooth g
Distance1002003004005006007008009001000110012001300
V188,12587,586,87586,87586,2585858585
BRágua-25-23,75-22,5-22,5-21,25-21,25-20-20,18,75
BRar-20-15-10-7,5-5-1,25-1,2503,75
Tooth h
Distance1002003004005006007008009001000110012001300
V188,7588,12587,586,87585,62585,6258585
BRágua-23,75-25-23,75-22,5-20-13,75-12,5-15
BRar-20-17,5-11,25-7,5-2,502,52,5
Tooth i
Distance1002003004005006007008009001000110012001300
V191,259088,7587,586,258583,7581,87581,25
BRágua-27,5-25-25-23,75-22,5-21,25-18,75-17,5
BRar-25-22,5-17,5-15-10-7,5-502,5
Tooth j
Distance1002003004005006007008009001000110012001300
V190,62589,37587,586,2586,258583,7583,7584,37585
BRágua-26,25-25-23,75-23,75-25-23,75-21,25-20-20-18,75
BRar-22,5-22,5-17,5-10-2,52,5553,753,75