CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF TOOTH SAMPLES COMPOSED OF ENAMEL, DENTINE AND CEMENTUM. II
MARIAN L. LEFEVRE M.S.1 and
HAROLD C. HODGE PH.D.1
1 Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, N. Y.
(1) Average values for chemical composition of about 100 teeth of adults follow: Moisture, 8.98 ± 2.23; inorganic residue, 84.8 ± 2.56; Ca, 35.2 ± 0.76; P, 16.8 ± 0.36; Ca:P percent ratio, 2.10 ± 0.03; C02, 3.45 ± 0.26; residue solution number, 12.6 ± 0.63. (2) The principal characteristic of the data is the "remarkable constancy" of composition of tooth substance. (3) "Patterns" are obtained in some cases when certain values for the teeth from a single individual are plotted against tooth type. (4) Deciduous teeth have more moisture, less inorganic residue, Ca and P, and about the same carbonate content and "residue solution-number" as permanent teeth. (5) There is little difference, except in moisture content, between carious and sound teeth. (6) There is little evidence of changes due to age in the chemical constitution of teeth. (7) There is little chemical difference between teeth from male and from female patients. (8) With increasing severity of pyorrhea, there may be a decrease in carbonate content of the teeth.
