Characterization of tooth with amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) by atom probe tomography

Nanoscale chemical characterization of biominerals has been significantly improved by the use of atom probe tomography (APT). A main application is on the analysis of tooth enamel, including the alterations induced by caries processes, but limited in characterizing other diseases on human teeth. Here, we use APT to study enamel affected by amelogenesis imperfecta (AI). Our results show that APT distinguish the presence and distribution of carbon and nitrogen in AI enamel corresponding to a reported increase in protein and lipid components. Also, APT demonstrates that boundaries of apatite crystals, defined by the 3D distribution of magnesium and sodium, are disrupted in AI compared to sound enamel. In summary, our study highlights new capabilities of atom probe tomography in the analysis of biomineralized hard tissues under healthy and disease conditions.