3D electron microscopy investigations of human dentin at the micro/nano-scale using focused ion beam based nanostructuring

Abstract

In this study, high resolution electron microscopy techniques, such as Focused Ion Beam (FIB), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) revealed micro and nano features within human dentin with high definition and accuracy. The samples were prepared using FIB based advanced nanostructuring techniques in a dual-beam instrument. The related secondary electron (SE) image tomographs were acquired by means of stacking the images from FIB slice-series for monitoring micro-sized dentinal tubules, whereas FIB-structured pin-like samples were investigated at the TEM to observe the collagen fibrils at the nanoscale. The complimentary analysis helped to reveal the microstructure and morphology of human dentin in three dimensions in detail.