Characterization of Tooth Samples with a Talbot-Lau Grating Interferometer μXCT Desktop Device

An innovative X-ray technology for laboratory studies of polymeric, biologic and medical samples has recently become commercially available by the introduction of a desktop Talbot-Lau grating interferometer μXCT system. Talbot-Lau μXCT increases the imaging capabilities of conventional absorption-based contrast (AC) with differential phase contrast (DPC) and dark-field contrast (DFC). This paper discusses the application of μXCT and Talbot-Lau μXCT in the field of dentistry. We investigated different tooth samples using a desktop Talbot-Lau μXCT and compare the results to high-resolution μXCT of the occlusal surface, dental fillings and root canal. In addition, a suitable image processing routine for data fusion of tooth samples and a custom-made test phantom are presented to optimize data quality.