Correlation of magnetic resonance image and histology of human teeth.

Current methods for diagnosis of pulpal pathosis are often inadequate and there is a need for an in vivo method to visualize dental pulp tissue. This report compares micromagnetic resonance imaging (MMRI) with routine H & E histology on a cross sectional view of a molar tooth. The extracted tooth was imaged with a Bruker AM-400 NMR spectrometer modified with a microimaging accessory. The tooth was then decalcified and sectioned at the same level as the MMR image. Image intensity readings were acquired for specific areas of the pulp chamber for comparison with histology. The results demonstrate that there is a close correlation between the MMRI and the low power H & E appearance of pulp tissue.