Dental Erosion by Beverages and Determination of Trace Elements in Teeth by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry

Abstract

The analysis of trace elements in human tooth for use as biomarkers continues to generate considerable interest in environmental and bioanalytical studies, medical diagnostic and forensic science. This study investigated concentrations of essential and toxic elements (Zn, Cu, Pb, Ni, Co and Cd) using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) and (Na and K) flame atomic emission spectroscopy (FAES) in human tooth obtained from Misan province, Iraq. The influence of smoking habits and born children on the levels of trace elements in additional to dental erosion by some beverages in the tooth samples were investigated. The overall of mean concentrations of (Zn 185.2 ppm, Cu 36.11 ppm, Pb 18.63 ppm, Ni 13.44 ppm, Co 3.45 ppm, and Cd 0.58 ppm, Na 11.683 ppm and K 115.27 ppm), (Zn 178.243 ppm, Cu 35.877 ppm, Pb 15.64 ppm, Ni 12.89 ppm, Co 3.421 ppm, Cd 0.455 ppm, Na 11,558.04 ppm and K 114.04 ppm) in smokers and non-smokers tooth groups respectively, (Zn 81.12 ppm, Cu 24.37 ppm, Pb 11.18 ppm, Ni 13.68 ppm, Co 3.32 ppm, Cd 0.44 ppm, Na 8227 ppm and K 76.42 ppm), (Zn 80.58 ppm, Cu 24.30 ppm, Pb 10.86 ppm, Ni 12.74 ppm, Co 2.71 ppm, Cd 0.23 ppm, Na 8165 ppm and K 72.80 ppm) in mothers and wives tooth groups respectively. However the w/w% loss of tooth immersed in following order of beverages (green tea, black tea, cinnamon, hibiscus, vinegar and citrus aurantifolia (9.09, 9.68, 12.36, 15.01, 16.77 and 17.38), (8.19, 8.25, 9.76, 13.37, 14.02 and 15.33) in smokers and non-smokers groups respectively, (11.25, 11.47, 13.30, 15.75, 19.58, and 20.91), (8.31, 7.96, 11.39, 13.49, 17.40, and 17.67) in mothers and wives groups respectively. However, there is a statistically significant variance found Zn ( t cal 5.029, t tab 2.131), Pb ( t cal 4.8538, t tab 2.131), Ni ( t ca l 5.243, t tab 2.131), Cd ( t cal 3.9062, t tab 2.131) and Na ( t cal 3.0832, t tab 2.131) between smokers and non-smokers tooth groups. However, the Co ( t cal 2.7403, t tab 2.131) also shows statistically significant variance between mothers and wives groups. There is no statistically significant variance in w/w% loss after immersed the tooth in some beverages but in general it was higher in smokers than non-smokers and in mothers higher than wives.