We investigated the possible cariostatic effect of strontium in the absence of effective amounts of fluoride by relating the DMFT index of the population to the strontium and fluoride concentrations in drinking water and enamel surfaces. The epidemiological survey was conducted in two neighboring districts in the northwest part of Greece, involving 582 children ranging in age from 11 to 14. The average DMFT values were 5.26 in the high-strontium (2.9-7 ppm Sr) area and 6.95 in the low-strontium (0.2-1.3 ppm Sr) area, while fluoride was low (< 0.06 ppm) in both districts. Further, the average strontium concentration in surface enamel was higher in the high-strontium area.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Losee, F.L. and Ludwig, T.G.: Trace Elements and Caries, J Dent Res49:1229-1235, 1970.
2.
Navia, J.M.: Effect of Minerals on Dental Caries. In: Dietary Chemicals vs. Dental Caries. Advances in Chemistry, Series No. 94, Gould, R.F., Ed., Washington, D.C.: American Chemical Society, 1970.
3.
Gedalia, J.; Anaise, J.; and Laufer, I.: Effect of Prenatal Pre-eruptive and Post-eruptive Strontium Administration on Dental Caries in Hamster Molars, J Dent Res54:1240, 1975.
4.
Meyerowitz, G.; Little, M.F.; and Curzon, M.E.J.: Sr in Rat Enamel and Caries. A Preliminary Report, IADR Progr & Abstr55:No. 257, 1976.
5.
Barmes, D.E. : Caries Aetiology in Sepic Village. Trace Element Micronutrient and Macronutrient Content of Soil and Food, Caries Res3:44-59, 1969.
6.
Curzon, M.E.J. ; Adkins, B.L.; Bibby , B.G.; and Losee, F.L.: Combined Effect of Trace Elements and Fluorine on Caries, J Dent Res49:526-528, 1970.
7.
Vrbic, V. and Stupar, J.: Dental Caries and the Concentration of Aluminium and Strontium in Enamel, Caries Res14: 141-147, 1980.
8.
Steadman, L.T. ; Brudevold, F.; and Smith, F.A.: Distribution of Strontium in Teeth from Different Geographic Areas, JADA57:340-344, 1958.
9.
Newman, W.F. ; Bjornestedt, R.; and Mulryan, B.J.: Synthetic Hydroxyapatite Crystals. Aging and Strontium Incorporation, Arch Biochem Biophys101:215-224, 1963.
10.
Johnson, A.R. ; Armstrong, W.D.; and Singer, L.: Strontium Incorporation into Dental Enamel , Science153: 1936-1937, 1966.
11.
Losee, F.L. and Adkins, B.L.: A Study of the Mineral Environment of Caries Resistant Navy Recruits, Caries Res3:23-31, 1969.
12.
Oral Health Surveys.Basic Methods. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization, 1971.
13.
Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater , 14th ed., Washington D.C. : American Public Health Association, Inc. (APHA) , 1975, pp. 148-151, 257-259.
Determination of Fluoride in Drinking Water Using TISAB, Application Bulletin5A (Form 5a, Ab 94-9611), Cambridge, MA: Orion Research, Inc., 1969.
16.
Lyon, W.S., Jr., Ed.: Guide to Activation Analysis, Princeton, NJ: D. Van Nostrand Co., Inc., 1964.
17.
Brudevold, F.; Reda, A.; Aasenden , R.; and Bakhos, Y.: Determination of Trace Elements in Surface Enamel of Human Teeth by a New Biopsy Procedure , Arch Oral Biol20: 667-673, 1975.
18.
Analytical Methods Using the HGA Graphite Furnace, Ueberlingen, West Germany: Bodenseewerk, Perkin-Elmer and Co., 1970.
19.
Hadjimarkos, D.M. and Bonhorst, C.W.: The Trace Element Selenium and its Influence on Dental Caries Susceptibility, J Pediatr52:274-278, 1958.
20.
Lodrop, H.: The Low Rate of Dental Decay in Bonn and the Conclusions that are to be Drawn from It, Nor Tannlaegeforen Tid63:35-50, 1953.
21.
Curzon, M.E.J. and Losee, F.L.: Strontium Content of Enamel and Dental Caries, Caries Res11:321-326, 1977.
22.
Curzon, M.E.J. and Spector, P.C.: Inhibition of Dental Caries in the Rat by Strontium, 25th ORCA Congress, Abstr. No. 101, 1978.
