title: X-ray study and microhardness data of some dental enamel species.
abstract: X-ray analysis and microhardness of dental enamel of some human and animal species were investigated. Human enamel is composed mainly of hydroxyapatite and fluorapatite together with traces of delta calcium metaphosphate. Prominant apatite phases with a small amount of basic calcium carbonate are also present in the enamel of dog canine teeth. Calcite forms the main crystalline components of rat enamel with some hydroxyapatite. A relatively higher hardness value was detected for enamels of human incisors than for that of rats; the dog enamel was, however, apparently harder than that of the human variety. The hardness values generally decreased with increasing the applied load. The correlation between the phase analysis of the enamel materials and their microhardness values and the dependence of this property on the load applied are discussed.
authors.affiliation: X-ray Division, Central Services Laboratory National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Salama
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Kinawi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000032:analysis*; D004285:Dogs; D006244:Hardness; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051381:Rats; D013045:Species Specificity; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction