CONCENTRATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF TRACE ELEMENTS IN DENTAL ENAMEL USING THE ENERGY-DISPERSIVE X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY TECHNIQUE

Abstract

The aims of this study were to determine the concentration and identify the distribution of existent trace elements in dental enamel from whole sections of dental organs. In this study the distribution of trace elements was analyzed considering three main areas: the surfaces near the dentin-enamel junction and the external and intermediate surfaces. Seventeen location points were studied in the enamel tissue through scanning electron microscopy. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of chemical elements were performed by spectral dispersive X-ray energy. The results of the present study indicate the presence of thirteen trace elements (Al, Sn, Sb, I, Si, Yb, Ba, K, Br, Sr, Sc, In, S), their distribution and concentration models are presented here and different anatomical distributions in the crown of the dental organ are shown. In conclusion, with the energy dispersive spectral X-ray analysis, different element distributions and concentrations of trace elements were identified in the thickness of the dental enamel.