[Pathogenesis of disorders of hard tooth tissues in thyrotoxicosis]

Transmission and scanning electron microscopy were used in rat experiments to demonstrate that thyrotoxicosis induced by administering sodium L-thyroxine gives rise to a progressive disturbance of the ultrastructure of incisor enamel, first on the erupted and then on the non-erupted par. These alterations are accompanied by an increase in the content of some of trace elements (detected by radiofluorescence) in dental solid tissues. It is inferred that in the pathogenesis of dental disorders during thyrotoxicosis, the leading part is played by changes in oral fluid properties.