Elemental analysis of deciduous and permanent incisor teeth in Bovidae.

Abstract

The functional incisor teeth (permanent and deciduous teeth) from 13 species of Bovidae (16 specimens in all) were prepared for electronprobe microanalysis of Ca, P, and trace elements. The concentrations of calcium in the enamel layer of the permanent and deciduous teeth were constant at each level, in contrast to those in dentin layers, where the concentrations in permanent incisor teeth gradually decreased from the surface inward. Concentrations of magnesium (about 1-2 atoms %) in deciduous teeth gradually increased from the surface inward, in contrast to those in permanent teeth. Trace amounts of iron were found throughout the enamel layers, but the concentrations varied among species. The profiles of fluoride concentrations differed between deciduous and permanent teeth.Our chemical analysis of Ca, P, and trace elements (Mg, F, and Fe) indicates that some of the most important differences between the permanent and deciduous teeth of Bovidae might be those in the distributions of trace elements. These differences might be related to the mechanism of mineralizationin deciduous and permanent teeth.