Determination of fluoride, zinc and lead ions concentrations in primary teeth and drinking water and dental caries experience

Abstract

Aims: To detect the levels of fluoride (F), zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) in primary teeth and drinking water and their relation to dental caries experience in school children aged 6-12 years living in two distinct areas in Ninevah Governorate using two different sources of drinking water supply. Materials and Methods: The samples consisted of 120 freshly extracted highly mobile free of dental caries human primary mandibular teeth and ten wells water samples with ten tap water samples which had been chosen randomly. The samples were analyzed for F by fluoride sensitive electrode and for Zn and Pb by computerized atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Assessments and recording of caries experience were done by application of decayed, missing and filled surfaces (dmfs) index for primary dentition. Results: Statistical analysis of the results indicated that the mean F and Zn concentrations in the teeth were 244.35 + 167.49 ppm; 87.41+ 36.64 ppm respectively of the rural children were significantly higher than in the teeth of urban children (104.53 + 52.75 ppm; 65.19+ 28.79 ppm respectively). Meanwhile the concentration of Pb in the teeth of the urban children (1.62+0.41 ppm) was significantly higher than in the teeth of rural children (0.94+ 0.80 ppm)(p<0.001). Statistically significant higher F concentration in the wells water (3.39+ 0.25 ppm) than urban water supply (0.19+ 0.07 ppm) (p<0.001). Statistically significant higher Zn concentration in the urban water supply (0.1.34+ 0.31 ppm) than wells water (0.07+ 0.03 ppm) (p<0.001), but Pb concentration in wells water was not detected. Statistically significant higher caries experience was found in urban children than in rural (p<0.001). In the rural and urban areas, a negative correlation in the dmfs with F and Zn concentrations in teeth while a positive correlation with Pb was observed. Conclusions: A highly significant F and Zn concentrations in primary teeth were found in rural area than the urban and the opposite was true for Pb concentration. High significant F concentration was found in the wells water than urban water supply, and the opposite was true for Zn, but Pb concentration in wells water was not detected. High significant differences in dental caries indices were found in urban children than in rural children.

Prevalence of demarcated hypomineralisation defects in second primary molars in Iraqi children

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Risk factors in the occurrence of molar–incisor hypomineralization amongst a group of Iraqi children

“…This study is part of a broader project aimed at assessing MIH perception, prevalence and severity in an Iraqi community resided in Mosul city (the second largest city following Baghdad, the capital, population 1,800,000, natural concentration of fluoride in the drinking water is 0.19 ± 0.07 ppm 13 ). Ethical approval for the larger project, including this study, was obtained from Human Research Ethics Committee of the University of Melbourne and the Dental College of Mosul University.…”

Molar-incisor hypomineralisation: prevalence and defect characteristics in Iraqi children

“…Mosul is the second largest city in Iraq after the capital Baghdad and is located in the north part of the country on both sides of the Tigris River. Its 1,800,000 inhabitants are provided with a communal water supply from the Tigris River having a fluoride concentration 0.19 ± 0.07 ppm 17 .…”