title: Mercury, copper, and zinc concentrations in extracted human teeth.
abstract: Amalgam has been used as a filling material for over 150 years. Mercury, copper, and zinc are present in restoration. The aim of this study was to compare mercury, copper, and zinc concentrations in extracted human teeth with amalgam restorations and teeth without restorations. Thirty-two teeth, 15 restored with dental amalgam and 17 without restorations, were chemically analyzed in an Optima 3300 DV (Perkin Elmer) plasma emission spectrometer. Mercury, copper, and zinc were found in human teeth regardless of the presence of amalgam restorations. The highest mercury concentrations were found in the coronary portions of the teeth with amalgam restorations. Copper concentrations were very high. Zinc concentrations in the teeth without restoration were lower than those seen in the coronary portion of the teeth with restorations.
authors.affiliation: Restorative Dentistry, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Juiz de Fora, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rita de Cássia Villar
authors.initials: Rde C
authors.lastname: Brigato
authors.forename: Liovando Marciano
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Marcelo Rocha
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: da Costa
authors.forename: Neuza Maria Souza Picorelli
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Assis
authors.forename: Claudio Hideki
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kubo
mesh_terms: D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis*; D003723:Dental Amalgam / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008628:Mercury / Q000032:analysis*; D014070:Tooth / Q000737:chemistry*; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D003723:Dental Amalgam; D008628:Mercury; D015032:Zinc