Determination of the concentration of Aluminum and Zinc in adult teeth samples in Al-Najaf Governorate, Iraq

Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to assess the potential effects of aluminium (Al) and zinc (Zn) on oral health by determining their concentrations in adult teeth samples. Teeth of materials, such as implants and restorative products, often contain small amounts of metallic elements that can interact with the oral environment and impact a patient's health. To quantitatively analyze the concentrations of Al and Zn in teeth samples collected from adults, atomic absorption spectroscopy was used. The results showed the concentration of two metals: Aluminium (Al) and Zinc (Zn) in the teeth of 30 samples from the sample. It is evident from the data that Al and Zn concentrations differ between individuals according to age groups. The highest concentration of Aluminium was found in a 19-year-old female with a concentration of 14.888 (ppm), while the highest concentration of zinc was found in a 54-year-old male with a concentration of 59.458 (ppm). The lowest concentration of Aluminium was found in a 32-year male with a concentration of 1.735 (ppm), while the lowest concentration of zinc was found in a 52-year female with a concentration of 1.867 (ppm). We conclude that the concentration of zinc in the dental samples was higher than that of Aluminium. This is because zinc plays an essential role in many body processes, including the formation of teeth and bones. It is a component of saliva that helps protect teeth from decay by reducing acids produced by bacteria in the mouth.