Measurements of optical polarization properties in dental tissues and biomaterials

Alicia Fernández-Oliveras; Oscar E. Pecho; Manuel Rubiño; María M. Pérez

doi:10.1117/12.892020

26 July 2011 Measurements of optical polarization properties in dental tissues and biomaterials

Alicia Fernández-Oliveras, Oscar E. Pecho, Manuel Rubiño, María M. Pérez

Proceedings Volume 8001, International Conference on Applications of Optics and Photonics; 80012Y (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.892020
Event: International Conference on Applications of Optics and Photonics, 2011, Braga, Portugal

Abstract

Since biological tissues can have the intrinsic property of altering the polarization of incident light, optical polarization studies are important for a complete characterization. We have measured the polarized light scattered off of different dental tissues and biomaterials for a comparative study of their optical polarization property. The experimental setup was composed by a He-Ne laser, two linear polarizers and a detection system based on a photodiode. The laser beam was passed through one linear polarizer placed in front of the sample, beyond which the second linear polarizer (analyzer) and the photodiode detector were placed. First, the maximum laser-light intensity (reference condition) was attained without the sample in the laser path. Then, the sample was placed between the two polarizers and the polarization shift of the scattered laser light was determined by rotating the analyzer until the reference condition was reached. Two dental-resin composites (nanocomposite and hybrid) and two human dental tissues (enamel and dentine) were analyzed under repeatability conditions at three different locations on the sample: 20 measurements of the shift were taken and the average value and the uncertainty associated were calculated. For the human dentine the average value of the polarization shift found was 7 degrees, with an associated uncertainty of 2 degrees. For the human enamel and both dental-resin composites the average shift values were found to be similar to their corresponding uncertainties (2 degrees). The results suggest that although human dentine has notable polarization properties, dental-resin composites and human enamel do not show significant polarization shifts.

Citation Download Citation

Alicia Fernández-Oliveras, Oscar E. Pecho, Manuel Rubiño, and María M. Pérez "Measurements of optical polarization properties in dental tissues and biomaterials", Proc. SPIE 8001, International Conference on Applications of Optics and Photonics, 80012Y (26 July 2011); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.892020

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available