Synchrotron radiation microbeam X-ray fluorescence analysis of zinc concentration in remineralized enamel in situ.
OBJECTIVE
Remineralization is an indispensable phenomenon during the natural healing process of enamel decay. The incorporation of zinc (Zn) into enamel crystal could accelerate this remineralization. The present study was designed to investigate the concentration and distribution of Zn in remineralized enamel after gum chewing.


METHODS
The experiment was performed at the Photon Factory. Synchrotron radiation was monochromatized and X-rays were focused into a small beam spot. The X-ray fluorescence (XRF) from the sample was detected with a silicon (Si) (lithium (Li)) detector. X-ray beam energy was tuned to detect Zn. The examined samples were small enamel fragments remineralized after chewing calcium phosphate-containing gum in situ. The incorporation of Zn atom into hydroxyapatite (OHAP), the main component of enamel, was measured using Zn K-edge extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) with fluorescence mode at the SPring-8.


RESULTS
A high concentration of Zn was detected in a superficial area 10-microm deep of the sectioned enamel after gum chewing. This concentration increased over that in the intact enamel. The atomic distance between Zn and O in the enamel was calculated using the EXAFS data. The analyzed atomic distances between Zn and O in two sections were 0.237 and 0.240 nm.


CONCLUSIONS
The present experiments suggest that Zn is effectively incorporated into remineralized enamel through the physiological processes of mineral deposition in the oral cavity through gum-chewing and that Zn substitution probably occurred at the calcium position in enamel hydroxyapatite.
Matsunaga
Tsunenori
T
Department of Cariology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Sakamoto 1-7-1, Nagasaki 852-8588, Japan.
Ishizaki
Hidetaka
H
Tanabe
Shuji
S
Hayashi
Yoshihiko
Y
D002130:Calcium Phosphates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002638:Chewing Gum; D003461:Crystallography; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000378:metabolism; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000737:chemistry*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D017886:Durapatite / Q000032:analysis; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D006801:Humans; D008094:Lithium / Q000032:analysis; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012825:Silicon / Q000032:analysis; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D017356:Synchrotrons; D014089:Tooth Remineralization; D014993:Xylitol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis*
D002130:Calcium Phosphates; D002638:Chewing Gum; D011134:Polysaccharides; C093529:funoran; D017886:Durapatite; C020243:calcium phosphate; D008094:Lithium; D015032:Zinc; D010100:Oxygen; D014993:Xylitol; D012825:Silicon