COMPOSITION OF PRECOLUMBIAN TEETH

CALCIUM, PHOSPHORUS, AND CARBON DIOXIDE DETERMINATIONS ON ALL THE DENTIN AND ALL THE ENAMEL

¹ Department of Chemistry, College of Arts and Science, and the Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York

1. The analysis of 32 precolumbian teeth are reported. Five of these teeth are carious, 26 showed attrition and 9 gave evidence of periodontal resorption and calculus.

2. The enamel and dentin were separated. About 30 per cent enamel, 60 per cent dentin, and 10 per cent loss were obtained.

3. The percentage composition of the enamel inorganic material averaged Ca—37.1, P—17.6, CO₂—1.98, Ca:P—2.12 (on the dry weight basis, inorganic—98.0 per cent).

4. The percentage composition of the dentin inorganic material averaged Ca—35.7, P—16.6, CO₂—3.31, Ca:P—2.15 (on the dry weight basis, inorganic—80.0 per cent).

5. No significant differences between averages for sound and carious teeth were found.

6. The constancy of composition of precolumbian teeth is noteworthy. The mole compositions of the mineral phase of precolumbian enamel and dentine are nearly the same as those of modern and fossil teeth.

7. The calcium and phosphorus values are near the theoretical for hydroxylapatite. The authors acknowledge the assistance of Dr. Ale Hrdlika, of Dr. Marian L. Manly and of Dr. Virgil D. Cheyne.