Comparative analysis of the chemical composition of tooth enamel with a different state of the cervical area

Abstract

Introduction. Cervical lesions of the teeth are a frequent reason for patients to see a dentist, therefore, it is important to study their etiopathogenetic factors. Objectives. Determination of the content of chemical elements in the enamel of intact teeth, with a wedge-shaped defect (WSD) and cervical caries (CC), calculation of molar coefficients and comparative analysis. Materials and methods. Using a JSM-6490 LV focused beam scanning electron microscope with system of energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis INCA Penta FETx3 there were identified the chemical composition of the surface enamel of 29 teeth in the area of the incisal ridge (IR)/ (tubercule), equator, and cervical area (CA) as a percentage ratio of the weight amounts of oxygen, carbon, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, magnesium, sulfur, chlorine, zinc, potassium, and aluminum. Results. Significant differences in the content of carbon, oxygen and calcium were revealed in all areas of the teeth depending on the state of CA (p≤0.05). Carbon was higher in the enamel of the samples with CC: in the area of IR ̸ tubercule – by 67% and 15%, the equator – by 67% and 40%, CA – by 33% and 60% compared to the samples with WSD and intact ones, respectively (p≤0.05). The oxygen content was higher in the teeth with WSD in the areas of IR ̸ tubercule (by 25% and 48%) and the equator (by 13% and 7%) than in the teeth with CC and intact ones, respectively. It was 34% and 13% higher in CA in the enamel of intact samples than in the samples with CC and WSD, respectively. The calcium content was 25% and 33% higher in intact teeth in the area of IR ̸ tubercule compared to the teeth with WSD and CC, respectively. The amount of calcium in the equator area was the same in WSD and intact samples and it was 14% and 13% higher than in the samples with CC, respectively. In CA, it was 16% and 14% higher in the teeth with WSD compared to the teeth with CC and intact ones, respectively. The studied areas of the teeth also significantly differed in terms of the values of Mg/ Ca-molar coefficient (p≤0.05). Its values in the area of IR / tubercule were 56% higher in the samples with CC than in intact ones. Mg/Ca values in the enamel of the equator were 3.7 and 1.5 times higher in the teeth with CC compared to intact teeth and teeth with WSD, respectively. In IR Mg/Ca-molar coefficient was 4.7 and 5.5 times higher in the enamel of intacts amples than in the samples with WSD and CC, respectively. Conclusions. The identified differences in the chemical composition of enamel depending on the state of CA of the teeth allow us to understand better the etiopathogenesis of WSD and CC of the teeth and to justify the principles of their treatment and prevention.