Studies of the Composition of Teeth

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The combustible and principal inorganic components of separated enamel and dentin from incisor and molar teeth of adult male and female Syrian hamsters were determined. Components of hamster enamel which were lost by combustion at 900* C. varied consistently with the source of the tissue, with more in such tissue from females than in that from males, and more in incisor enamel than in molar enamel. Combustible portion of hamster dentin did not vary greatly, whatever the source. Total in-organic residue of hamster dentin and enamel which remained after combustion was generally less than the reported inorganic content of similar human tissues determined by other means. The Ca content of the inorganic residue of hamster enamel varied consistently with the source, while the P did not. The Mg con-tent of enamel varied considerably but not consistently with the source of the tissue. The Ca, P, and Mg content of hamster dentin did not vary greatly, whatever the source. The Ca:P ratio of hamster enamel ranged from 1.45 to 1.87, with a higher ratio for this tissue from males than from females. The Ca:P ratio of hamster dentin ranged from 1.37 to 1.49, with no consistent difference in the tissue from males or females.