Magnetic resonance microimaging (MRM) of teeth has continued to be develope
d. Two ways in which data can be presented have been investigated, 112-mu m
-thick image slices and pseudo-three-dimensional surface rendered images. L
imitations of the latter have been demonstrated; the possible absence of st
ructures having low intensity or incompleteness of the image at regions fro
m which the signal intensity is low. This has implications for the MRM inve
stigation of dental caries. However, all intensities are recorded and are a
vailable. Structures which give a low-intensity signal can be seen in image
slices. MRM appears well suited to studying the development of dental cari
es, ideally in combination with other techniques, As MRM is non-destructive
and non-invasive, it can be used in experiments which follow the progress
of the disease, yet leaves the tissue intact for other investigations. Copy
right (C) 2000 S. Karger AG. Basel.