Imaging human teeth by phosphorus magnetic resonance with nuclear Overhauser enhancement

Sci Rep. 2016 Aug 8:6:30756. doi: 10.1038/srep30756.

Abstract

Three-dimensional phosphorus MR images ((31)P MRI) of teeth are obtained at a nominal resolution of 0.5 mm in less than 15 minutes using acquisition pulse sequences sensitive to ultra-short transversal relaxation times. The images directly reflect the spatially resolved phosphorus content of mineral tissue in dentin and enamel; they show a lack of signal from pulp tissue and reduced signal from de-mineralized carious lesions. We demonstrate for the first time that the signal in (31)P MR images of mineralized tissue is enhanced by a (1)H-(31)P nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE). Using teeth as a model for imaging mineralized human tissue, graded differences in signal enhancement are observed that correlate well with known mineral content. From solid-state NMR experiments we conclude that the NOE is facilitated by spin diffusion and that the NOE difference can be assigned to a higher water content and a different micro-structure of dentin. Thus, a novel method for imaging mineral content without ionizing radiation is proposed. This method has potential use in the assessment of de-mineralization states in humans, such as caries of teeth and osteoporosis of bones.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Dental Enamel / chemistry
  • Dental Enamel / diagnostic imaging
  • Dentin / chemistry
  • Dentin / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Phosphorus / chemistry*
  • Tooth / chemistry
  • Tooth / diagnostic imaging*

Substances

  • Phosphorus