Changes of fluorescence characteristics by aging in human teeth

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Oral Biology Vol. 32; no. 6; pp. 575 - 583
• Main Authors: Hanafusa, Nobuhiro, Araki, Tsutomu, Hirota, Katsuhiko, Kawata, Terushige
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japanese Association for Oral Biology 1990
• Subjects: aging; fluorescence decay curve; fluorescent cross-linked collagen; Teeth's fluorescence
• ISSN: 0385-0137
• DOI: 10.2330/joralbiosci1965.32.575

Human teeth fluoresce as a result of illumination by UV-light. The fluorescence characteristics of human teeth were investigated with respect to aging and the presence of caries. The nanosecond decay features of a tooth's fluorescence were measured using a time-resolved fluorescence microspectrometer. The fluorescence intensity and fluorescence decay curve were founded to be age dependent in dentin tissue; the fluorescence intensity increased and the fluorescence decay time decreased with increasing human age. This may result from a gradual maturation of the fluorescent cross-linked collagen, such as pyridinoline, which increases markedly with age. The fluorescence intensity, anisotropy and fluorescence decay curves of carieous enamel were similar to that of hydroxyapatite than to the sound enamel. The data suggest that both quantitative and qualitative changes in the organic matrix of enamel may affect the fluorescence of caries tissue.