Comprehensive Comparative Analysis of the Efficiency of Two Clearing Agents in Natural Transparent Teeth Preparation for Dental Education.

Abstract

Aim: To assess the effectiveness of the benzyl benzoate and benzyl alcohol (BABB) solution in transparent teeth preparation compared to methyl salicylate using comprehensive digital and radiographic quantitative values analysis.

Methodology: Freshly extracted 32 single-rooted teeth were immersed in 10% formalin for 24 h. They were then processed following a standard demineralization and dehydration protocol. The teeth were then divided into two groups: the first group, consisting of 12 teeth, was immersed in the BABB solution for 24 h; the second group of 20 teeth underwent the traditional protocol, which involved soaking the teeth in 99% methyl salicylate for the same duration. The optical properties of the processed teeth's translucency were evaluated by transluminant light imaging using a collimated light source and digital camera. Radiographic images of each tooth included in the study, along with a control group consisting of a freshly extracted natural tooth, were acquired under standardised computer settings, exposure conditions and X-ray tube positioning. The segmentation of the radiographic images into superpixels and the selection of areas of interest were conducted in the same manner as with visible light images. Image processing algorithms within the MatLab computational environment were utilised to assess the colour and intensity of the translucent light at the apical region of the root for each tooth.

Results: The optical properties of selected anatomical locations were consistent across both groups of teeth when evaluating hue, saturation and value of pixels. The X-ray absorption in the translucent teeth was significantly lower than that in the non-translucent teeth, with notable differences observed between the groups; specifically, teeth affected by BABB material exhibited greater permeability to X-rays than those affected by methyl salicylate.

Conclusions: The BABB solution demonstrates comparable efficacy to methyl salicylate regarding the optical properties of translucent teeth. When examining X-ray absorption, teeth treated with the BABB solution exhibited greater permeability to X-ray absorption than those treated with methyl salicylate.