[BIOSUBSTRATES AS DENTAL HEALTH INDICATORS IN SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN]

Lack of essential elements can lead to the development of general and dental diseases. To assess the level of microelements in the human body, the most informative biosubstrates are hair and dental hard tissues, in which the chemical elements are concentrated and fully reflect the quality of essential elements. We examined 34 6-12 years-old children to study the content of essential elements in biosubstrates, as in dental health indicators (in the period of formation and mineralization of most permanent teeth). The analysis was carried out by the X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy method. We studied 8 essential (Ca, Zn, K, Fe, Cu, Se, Mn, Cr) and 9 conditionally essential (S, Br, Cl, Co, Ag, V, Ni, Rb, Mo, Sr, Ti ) chemical elements in hair, and in the teeth - four essential (Ca, Zn, Mn, Fe) and three conditionally essential (Rb, Ni, Sr) trace elements. According to the study, in pupils, with compensated form of caries, was found minimal lack of essential chemical elements with the norm, and in children with decompensated form of caries - significantly low level of essential elements. In particular, the analysis of hair with the X-ray-fluorescence spectrometry method in second group children showed a significant lack of: Ca (0.8 times), Zn (1.2 times), K (1.5 times) Mn (1.8 times), etc. The low content of calcium (259025 ± 35224 ppm), iron (98.59±39.72 ppm), manganese (11.55±7.7ppm) was reported to be relatively low (p<0.05) in dental hard tissues. The exception was the zinc - its number exceeded the established norm by 28.1%, which should be explained by the fact that the zinc reduces the enamel penetration, and thus, transition of chemical elements from saliva to dental hard tissues. Thus, our study has showed that the composition of micro and macro elements in hair and dental hard tissues can be used as indicators of mineralization of dental enamel, dentine and alveolar bone. According to our results dental health changes are associated with the imbalance of chemical elements in biosubstrates.