Analysis of mineral components of supernumerary teeth

OBJECTIVES: Authors want to describe the mineral composition of supernumerary teeth. The aim of the study was the identification of differences in macro elements and microelements constitution between normal and supernumerary teeth. METHODS: It was prepared 50 samples of enamel and 50 samples of dentin both from normal and supernumerary teeth. The samples were obtained from the teeth surgically extracted in the Department of Oral Surgery Medical Academy of Warsaw. The enamel and dentine were mechanically separated one from the other in order to prepare pure fractions of dentine and enamel. Four fractions were obtained: Fraction I – normal teeth enamel Fraction II – supernumerary teeth enamel Fraction II – normal teeth dentine Fraction IV – supernumerary teeth dentine Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine the qualitive and quantitive analysis of mineral compound of the samples. This method seems to be one of the most sensitive and accurate in analysis of mineral composition of samples especially due to metals. Microelements were measured with the use of Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Macroelements were measured with the use of Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. RESULTS: The concentration of macroelements and microelements in supernumerary and normal teeth enamel and dentin were described. The significant differences of mineral contribution of some mineral were found.

CONCLUSIONS: 1. Atomic absorption spectrometry seems to be very adequate to assess the mineral structure of teeth. 2. The differences of mineral concentration in normal and supernumerary teeth samples prove the abnormalities of supernumerary teeth odontogenesis. 3. The mineral composition of teeth tissues may indicate the different environmental condition of the organism’s growth.