Dental Enamel Composition in Teeth with Severe and No Occlusal Wear.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate enamel composition in teeth with high wear (HW) and no wear (NW).

Materials and methods: One hundred and eighty-four teeth embedded in polymerized blocks, were assessed using the MolWear system. Specimens were imaged with a Zeiss Gemini 300 field emission SEM and analyzed via energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry. Weight percentages of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), sodium (Na), carbon (C), and oxygen (O) were measured. Measurements were taken on lateral enamel to avoid occlusal wear interference.

Results: Eight molars with composite score zero (NW) and 12 molars with composite score >20 (HW) were analyzed. Means and standard deviations for Ca, P, O, C, and Na were calculated for outer, middle, and inner enamel layers. Two-way ANOVA with Tukey-adjusted post hoc tests showed the Ca in the outer region was greater than in the inner region for both the HW and LW cohorts. It also showed that the Na increased from the outer to the inner layer of the enamel in both cohorts. The statistical difference in the Ca and Na cohorts was between the inner and outer range not between the HW and LW. One sample in the NW cohort showed evidence of demineralization.

Conclusion: In the teeth evaluated there were no significant differences between the HW cohort and the NW cohort with respect to calcium, phosphorus, carbon, oxygen, and sodium content. Only one sample showed evidence of demineralization, and it was in the no wear cohort.