Using an electron microscope and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microspe
ctroscopy, we studied the lattice images of crystallites of dental calculus
to demonstrate the presence of the central dark line (CDL) in its crystall
ite and to compare this CDL with that of bone and synthetic hydroxyapatite
crystals. Ultrastructural observations revealed clearly a number of crystal
lites, which displayed a proper lattice image and CDL similar to that of bo
ne, in the dental calculus. FTIR microspectroscopy revealed that the dental
calculus displayed a set of major spectra analogous to that of bone. These
results suggest that the formation process of hydroxyapatite crystals with
CDL in dental calculus, which is considered to be an unusual type of calci
fied structure in association with microorganisms, is basically similar to
that of the ordinary calcifying hard tissues (bone, enamel, etc.). (C) 2000
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