A link between copper and dental caries in human teeth identified by X-ray fluorescence elemental mapping

Abstract

Quantitative X-ray fluorescence imaging of sections of human teeth revealed an increased concentration of copper and zinc in carious regions of dentine compared with unaffected portions of the tooth. Higher-resolution images provided strong evidence that the copper was transported and localized mainly in the dentinal tubules. While similar levels of zinc were found in these areas and concentrated in the tubules, zinc was also more evident in the hydroxyapatite, and the increase in zinc levels compared with the levels in background (normal) areas was less than that for copper. These results suggest a role for copper and zinc in the formation and progression of dental caries and present a potential point of intervention for treatment.

Levels of lead, cadmium, copper, iron, and zinc in deciduous teeth of children living in Irbid, Jordan by ICP-OES: some factors affecting their concentrations

“…Bayo et al (2001) found that carious teeth showed higher Pb and Cd values than sound teeth. Harris et al (2008) reported that quantitative X-ray fluorescence imaging of sections of human teeth revealed an increased concentration of Cu and Zn in carious regions of dentine compared with unaffected portions of the tooth. Evaluation of the availability to plants of different elements in the high and low caries regions revealed that low caries was associated, in order of importance, with higher levels of some elements such as Cu and Ca.…”

Biomedical applications of X-ray absorption and vibrational spectroscopic microscopies in obtaining structural information from complex systems

“…The area where the pulp was present is the area in the centre as defined by the optical and elemental images. Interestingly, there is relatively little Ca and a high level of Cu in a mineral deposit on the right of the pulp and this may be indicative of tooth decay (Harris et al, 2008a), but this is undergoing further investigation (Harris et al, unpublished results, 2008). Even more surprising was that Hg was near areas of the tooth that once contained an active bloodstream (pulp) and in calculus (on the outside of the tooth).…”

“…1) and those published previously (Harris et al, 2008a(Harris et al, , 2008b) have demonstrated the power of the X-ray microprobe techniques in studies of tooth decay, transport of metal toxins from Hg amalgam fillings and the incorporation of heavy metals from the environment. When elemental mapping is overlayed with the morphology of the sample, which is obtained from the X-ray differential-phase contrast maps and micro-XANES of the metal hotspots, considerable information can be obtained about the transport, distribution and chemical transformation of metals, and other elements within teeth.…”

“…The methods for the preparation of teeth cross-sections and X-ray microprobe analysis of teeth are as described in detail elsewhere (Harris et al, 2008a(Harris et al, , 2008b.…”

Response to Guzzi & Pigatto'sComments onMigration of mercury from dental amalgam through human teethby H. H. Harriset al.(2008).J. Synchrotron Rad.15, 123–128

“…(v) Metals other than Hg are able to penetrate deep into the dentine of the teeth even when dentinal amalgam is not present (Harris et al, 2008a), such as when dental cavities are present.…”