EFFECT OF CHEWING ON THE PHOSPHORUS EXCHANGE IN TEETH

¹ Department of Physiology and Department of Dental Researech, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, N. Y.

1. A markedly greater retention of radioactive phosphorus was found in the nonfunctioning halves of monkey dentitions as compared with functioning halves.

2. The same trend was noticed whether disuse was produced by unilateral motor nerve section, by unilateral muscle resection, or by removal of one quadrant of teeth.

3. Frequent measurements were made topically from the molar surface in the mouth of the monkey with a small end-window Geiger-Müller counter, and were repeated after extraction.

4. It appears that the exchange of phosphorus ions in the tooth depends on biologic variables and that function may manifest itself as a factor affecting the ionic balance and turnover rate.