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Published on: May 16, 2019
Mercury, copper, and zinc concentrations in extracted human teeth
Rita de Cássia Villar Brigato1, Liovando Marciano Costa, Marcelo Rocha da Costa
1Restorative Dentistry, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil.
Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health
|December 17, 2009
Summary
Dental amalgam restorations contain mercury, copper, and zinc. Analysis revealed these elements in teeth with and without fillings, with higher mercury levels in teeth featuring amalgam.
Area of Science:
- Dental Materials Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Dental amalgam, a common filling material for over 150 years, comprises mercury, copper, and zinc.
- Understanding the elemental composition of teeth with and without amalgam restorations is crucial for dental health assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively compare the concentrations of mercury, copper, and zinc in human teeth with and without amalgam restorations.
- To investigate the distribution of these elements within tooth structures.
Main Methods:
- Chemical analysis of 32 extracted human teeth (15 with amalgam, 17 without).
- Utilized an Optima 3300 DV (Perkin Elmer) plasma emission spectrometer for elemental quantification.
- Focused on mercury, copper, and zinc concentrations in coronal and root portions.
Main Results:
- Mercury, copper, and zinc were detected in all analyzed teeth, irrespective of amalgam presence.
- Teeth with amalgam restorations exhibited significantly higher mercury concentrations, particularly in the coronal portion.
- Elevated copper levels were observed across samples.
- Zinc concentrations were lower in teeth without restorations compared to the coronal portions of teeth with restorations.
Conclusions:
- Amalgam restorations contribute to higher mercury levels in teeth.
- Copper and zinc are present in human teeth, with distribution influenced by amalgam restorations.
- Further research into the long-term biological implications of these elemental concentrations is warranted.
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