Research Abstract |
The relationship between the shape of the Tomes' process and the arrangement of enamel crystallites was examined by use of the computer graphic simulation technique, especially on the effects of length of crystallites to the arrangement of crystallites in the enamel prism (prism body). This studies aimed to confirm the theoretical bases recently given by Wakita and his coworkers. Present studies revealed that there was limit in the length of crystallites, when they educe on the S-face of the Tomes' process. This limitation was related to the surface structure of S-face of Tomes' process. That is, when the length of crystallite which educes on the given S-face came over the certain aspects, it crosses over the neighboring crystallites. It means that this phenomenon is capable only be on the CRT and it is impossible to be two-dimensionally as well as three-dimensionally in the prism. Because each of crystallites in actual prism have not only its length but also its width and thickness. These cross over between neighboring crystallites is resulted by the close relationship between the condition of the S-face of the Tomes' process on which they educe, and the crystallite length. That is, the crystallites educed on the S-face with small curvature occur cross over with neighboring ones, although their length are shorter than that educed on other area of the same S-surface.
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