Analysis of metal diffusion from crown to the human teeth

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Biomedical Engineering
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Dental crowns are common prosthetics.
• The elemental composition of dental alloys can influence biocompatibility and longevity.
• Understanding metal distribution in teeth with crowns is important for dental health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the elemental composition of metals in human teeth with dental crowns.
• To investigate the distribution of metals across tooth sections using PIXE.
• To analyze the relationship between crown alloy composition and metal presence in abutment teeth.

Main Methods:

• Proton Induced X-ray Emission spectroscopy (PIXE) was employed for elemental analysis.
• A 3 MeV proton beam was used with a spatial resolution of 300 microns to map element distribution.
• Samples were selected based on crown insertion time and alloy type.

Main Results:

• Intensities of gold, zinc, and copper were detected in abutment teeth.
• No significant intensity of palladium was found.
• The amount of silver detected was not significant.

Conclusions:

• PIXE is effective for determining metal distribution in human teeth with crowns.
• The study identified key metals (Au, Zn, Cu) present in dental crowns.
• Further research can explore the clinical implications of these findings.