The Impact of Fruit Juices on the Dental Erosion in Tooth Enamel - Research Paper Example

? The Impact of Fruit Juices on the Dental Erosion in Human Tooth E l Acknowledgement I would like to acknowledge the generous contributions made by my supervisor who was of immense help during the entire experimental period of the project. My thanks also go out to my teacher who was of immense help in helping me prepare the teeth samples and in take the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) samples for the experiment. Second Method Abstract In the second method, the project will also utilize Scanning Electron Microscope Images to help present a clear illustration of the harmful, erosive effects of drinking orange juice on the human teeth. The difference in the degree of teeth erosion between the adult permanent teeth and the baby primary teeth will also be stressed in this project. The effect of orange juice acid on the dental tubules will also be clearly demonstrated in the experimental project. This is because the two teeth have a different structure and chemical make up and hence respond differently to any form of chemical erosion on their part. Project Aim The use of Scanning Electron Microscope images (SEM) was employed to present a clearer view of the macroscopic effects of the erosive effects of the acid, present in orange juice, on the teeth’s surface. The effects of the obliteration of the dentinal tubules are also clearly evidenced in the SEM images. SEM Analysis of Tooth Enamel The images used in the experiment were taken using a Scanning Electron Microscope. The teeth were placed in a horizontal position, and care was taken to ensure that there was zero degree of tilt. After that, the SEM image pictures were taken at two different magnification levels of 10µm and 200µm for teeth in both categories of adult and primary. The electron acceleration that was used in the experiment was relatively low at 15.0kV and the working distance ranging from between 4.5mm to 7.0mm for both sets of adult and primary teeth depending on the overall size of the tooth. The Images taken by the microscope were then digitized with the help of SEM Image Slave software in order to obtain the quality images displayed1. The use of both back scattered and secondary electrons was employed to produce images. The SEM images in fig 1.4 show the surface of the adult tooth to be rough and scattered with many surface wide fissures and niches. The SEM image in fig 3.3 of the primary tooth shows the baby tooth to be covered with different size and number of particles, which are suggestive of different types of abrasive changes on the biting surface2. Discussion of the SEM Images Analysis of the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) Samples From the Scanning Electron Microscope image of the controlled tooth without any effect in fig 2.1, it can clearly be seen that there is an overall erosion of the entire smear layer of the tooth after its immersion in orange juice. The appearance of macroscopic lesions on the surface of the tooth after its immersion in orange juice is a clear indication of the erosive nature of the liquid. The result obtained is not much different from the one shown in the fig 1.1 of controlled tooth 1, which shows a normal human tooth viewed at 200µm; the tooth appears to be normal with a few deep lesions on its surface that can be ascribed to characteristic wear and tear due to the tooth’s normal activities while in the oral cavity. The surface appears to be smooth and not suffering from signs of any previous tooth erosion or any other tooth defect3. The figure 1.2 of controlled tooth 2 viewed at 200µm shows a normally developed adult permanent tooth. The tooth appears to be normal with a few deep lesions on its surface. The tooth also seems to have more pronounced chipping as compared to the previous tooth in figure 1.1. No dental caries or any other defect can be detected on the tooth’s surface. The figure 1.3 of controlled tooth 3 that is being viewed at a magnification level of 10µm shows a clear lesion on the tooth’s surface, which appears to have a smooth chalky appearance, and the lesion seems to be deep with a bit of whitening around its edges. The tooth’s smear layer appears to be intact, and, as a result, the dentine tubules are not evidently visible4. The figure 1.4 showing an image of controlled tooth 4 being viewed under a magnification of 10µm appears to have little smear layer available as compared to fig 1.3., though the dentinal tubules are still not visible. Changes in the Teeth Samples after Exposure to Orange Juice On the Fig 2.1, the adult tooth 1, which is being viewed at magnification levels of 200µm, seems to have developed more lesions on its surface that were not previously present before the tooth’s immersion in the orange juice. Areas of the tooth also seem to display more wear and tear than was previously seen before the tooth’s immersion in the orange juice; this is by the roughening of the tooth’s surface. An increased level of chipping on the tooth’s surface is also evident. The image in Fig 2.2 is that of an adult tooth 2 (another area) being viewed at magnification level of 200µm. The tooth seems to have developed more lesions on its surface that are almost akin to the lesions that have developed on the adult tooth 1 after both teeth were exposed to the orange juice. These lesions were not previously present before the tooth’s exposure to the orange juice. The tooth also displays more wear and tear on its surface than was previously seen before the tooth was exposed to the orange juice. Increased levels of chipping can also be detected with sections of the tooth having a more roughened appearance and less glossy look. These observations can be attributed to the loss by the tooth of its smear layer5. Fig 2.3 of adult tooth sample 3 being viewed at magnification levels of 10µm shows the resulting effect of the tooth having lost most of its smear layer. Without its smear layer, the tooth seems to have a feathery appearance. The tooth also displays a significant increase in the number of lesions on its surface, which were initially not present before its immersion in the orange juice. Areas of the tooth show signs of having been eroded away by the acid in the orange juice as evidenced by the development of trenches on the tooth’s surface6. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) Fig 2.4 of adult tooth 4 being viewed at magnification levels of 10µm clearly shows a tendency for the tooth to have an irregular and structureless pitted enamel surface after the tooth’s immersion in the orange juice. The tooth seems to exhibit an overall generalized structure loss as seen from the irregular enamel surface that is being characterized with the appearance of small, deep depressions on the tooth’s surface. The tooth also seems to have areas of exposed dentine on its surface. The dental tubules also seem to have been obliterated by the orange juice. Fig 3.1 that shows the appearance of the baby tooth after its submersion in the orange juice being viewed at magnification levels of 200µm. There is a substantial increase in the number of deep lesions that seem to have developed on the tooth’s surface. The tooth also seems to have lost some of its smear layer as is evidenced by the surface of the tooth seeming to have a rougher feel with signs of increased chipping being substantially evidenced. 7 The figure 3.2 shows the effect of sample baby tooth 2 exposure to orange juice at magnification levels of 200µm. The tooth displays the development of much deeper lesions on the tooth’s surface as compared to the results of the sample baby tooth 1 in figure 3.1 after both teeth were exposed to the orange juice. Wide spread chipping can also be evidenced with a general roughening of the tooth’s surface. In Fig 3.3, the Scanning Electron Microscope images on baby tooth 3 being viewed at magnification levels of 10µm, displaying the appearance of the tooth after its exposure to orange juice, clearly confirm the almost total erosion of the tooth’s smear surface coupled with the total obliteration of the tooth’s dentinal tubules. The tooth’s surface also displays a general roughened appearance. The tooth’s dentine is also visible, and this is especially so around the lesions. The figure 3.3, the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images on baby tooth 4 being viewed at magnification levels of 10µm, indicates a tendency for the tooth to have an irregular and structureless pitted enamel surface after the tooth’s immersion in the orange juice. The tooth seems to exhibit an overall generalized structure loss as seen from the irregular enamel surface that is being characterized with the appearance of small, deep depressions on the tooth’s surface. The tooth also seems to have areas of the exposed dentine on its surface. The dental tubules also seem to have been obliterated by the acid that is naturally present in the orange juice8. Discussion of the SEM Images of Teeth Samples In Relation to Orange Juice From the results of the SEM images seen above, it can clearly be seen that the acidity of the orange juice clearly has erosive characteristics on the surface enamels of both the deciduous child tooth and the permanent adult tooth with more erosion being noticed on the deciduous tooth. This erosion is a result of the porous nature of deciduous tooth which contains less enamel as compared to the adult permanent tooth. The SEM analysis showed progressive destruction of the tooth’s enamel ultra structure with the continued increase of the exposure time. The enamel dissolution is occurring as a result of the protective glossy enamel surface. This glossy enamel surface has been found to be more resistant to rapid dissolution by acid9. Evidence of enamel prism demineralization is present in the Scanning Electron Microscope images with its effects being more accentuated in the deciduous tooth as compared with the permanent tooth. The appearance of macroscopic lesions on the tooth’s surface after it has been exposed to the orange juice is a clear indicator of the erosive nature of the drink. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) observations confirmed that a destructive etching had occurred in the orange juice produced lesions. Another particularly relevant consideration is the agitation of the tooth while it was exposed in the orange juice by the use of magnetic rods. The agitation is supposed to duplicate conditions existing inside the human oral cavity. It has been shown that immersion of the samples while under agitation significantly causes an increase in the degree of tooth erosion produced by the orange juice10. Orange Juice is found to have a low pH value, and this ends up lowering the overall pH of the oral cavity. The acidity of the orange juice is found to have a high erosive character on tooth enamel; this erosive character is found to be dependent on the acidic properties of the juice chelation potential, exposure time, and presence of sugar. The acidic property of orange juice is found to be the amount of acid available (titratable acidity) and the amount of acid actually present (concentration of H+ ions – pKa). The erosive capability of the orange juice is determined by the individual PH value, titratable amount of the base as well as the drinks fluoride and phosphate content11. Conclusion The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) Image 2.1 and 2.1 clearly show the aftereffects of the erosive action of the orange juice on the adult human tooth. Both teeth seem to have generally weakened as is characterized by the chipping and development of rather deep lesions all over both their surfaces. SEM images 2.3 and 2.4 clearly indicate the general erosion of the teeth protective smear layer. The baby teeth images depicted in images 3.1 and 3.2 also display similar trends to the adult teeth in erosion, though they seem to be more severely affected by the erosion. Figures 3.3 and 3.4 show a more severe erosion of the baby teeth in comparison with the erosion of the adult teeth12. Bibliography Lussi, Adrian. Dental erosion from diagnosis to therapy: 22 tables. New York: Karger, 2006. Banerjee, Avijit, Pickard, Huia, and Watson, Timothy. Pickard's manual of operative dentistry Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011. Yip, Kevin, Smales, Roger, and Kaidonis, John. Tooth erosion. New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers, cop., 2006. McCauley, Laurie, and Somerman, Martha. Mineralized tissues in oral and craniofacial science: biological principles and clinical correlates. Ames, Iowa: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012. Addy, Martin, Embery, Graham, and Edgar, Michael. Tooth Wear and Sensitivity: Clinical Advances in Restorative Dentistry. New York: Taylor & Francis. Hakim, Rose. The How to Eat to Live Essential Companion: A Holistic Comprehensive How-To- Guide for "Cures" "They" Don't Want You to Know. Elijah Muhammad Books, 2000. Schneider, Dona. Public Health Development of a Discipline, Twentieth-century Challenges. USA: Rutgers University Press, 2011. Hillson, Simon. Teeth. New York: Cambridge University, 2005. Read More