STRUCTURAL AND COMPOSITIONAL STUDIES ON TEETH DECAY OF MAIN ETHNICS IN PENANG
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Date
2009-09
Authors
HUSSAIN, NABIHA KASEM
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Abstract
The present study was conducted investigate decayed teeth amongst various
ethnicities in Penang and to identify the reasons for this decay. The study was
conducted on a sample of 40 adults representing all ethnicities. Decayed teeth were
collected from 4 private clinics in Penang, Malaysia. The chemical assay of major
elements present in the intact side and caries tissue in the teeth was perfonned using
the SEMlEDX system. The chemical fonnulae of elements in the intact side and
caries tissue were also detennined using the XRD system. Next, the chemical and
physical structures of the intact side of teeth tissue of 18 Malay females selected
based on dietary and genetic similarity were studied using the FTIR spectroscopy
system. The results revealed that there was a significant diminution ofNa, Ca, P and
Cl. while Fluoride and Mg were not detected. The results also indicate that the
incidence of decayed teeth was significantly higher amongst females than males. The
morphology of decayed teeth showed irregular patterns in relation to ethnicity or age.
A direct relationship existed between Ca and P of the decayed teeth with C and 0 in
the intact and carious sides. This suggests that the bacterial and acidic effects on Ca
and P were similar. The chemical composition of the major compounds in the intact
side of decayed teeth and caries were different from those in healthy teeth. The FTIR
spectra of the intact side of decayed teeth of Malay females indicated that decay was
due to the presence of non-healthy compounds. The study revealed that the teeth of
Malaysians lacked major mineral salts and thus were susceptible to decay.
Moreover,ยท the study also disclosed that ethnicity was not an important predicator of
tooth decay
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Keywords
STRUCTURAL , COMPOSITIONAL