Spectrochemical Analysis of Dental Calculus by Synchrotron Radiation X-Ray Fluorescence

J. ABRAHAM; M.S. GRENÓN; H. J. SÁNCHEZ; C. A. PÉREZ; R.A. BARREA

ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY

AMER CHEMICAL SOC

Año: 2002 vol. 74 p. 324 - 328

0003-2700

This work presents elemental composition studies ofhuman dental calculus by X-ray fluorescence analysisusing synchrotron radiation. The intrinsic characteristicsof synchrotron light allow for a quantitative analysis ofmajor, minor, and trace elements of very small samplesin a single measurement. At present, several theories ofcalculus formation exist, but none of them can describecompletely all the complicated mechanisms involved inthe mineralization processes. For this reason, and takinginto account that experimental data are long overdue,several calculi with certain degrees of formation werecollected from adult patients for analysis. The ratio ofcalcium/phosphorus was used as an indicator of themajor crystalline structure and the state of formation ofthe calculus. The results demonstrate a clear correlationbetween the concentrations of certain elements and thetype of calculus (supra- or sub-gingival). In addition, thepossible correlation between the elements was analyzed.