[Paper Review] Trace element distribution in human teeth by x-ray fluorescence spectrometry and multivariate statistical analysis

Cristiana Oprea, P. Szałański+3 more|arXiv (Cornell University)|Jun 14, 2014

X-ray Spectroscopy and Fluorescence Analysis1 references3 citations

TL;DR

This study uses X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) to analyze trace element concentrations in human tooth tissues (enamel, dentine, cementum), combined with multivariate statistical analysis (MVSA) to identify patterns linked to age, gender, nutrition, profession, and environment. Key findings reveal significant differences in elemental composition by tissue type, sex, and tooth type, with higher inorganic content in female teeth and incisors compared to males and molars.

ABSTRACT

X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRFS) was used as a multielement method of evaluation of individual whole human tooth or tooth tissues for their amounts of trace elements. Measurements were carried out on human enamel, dentine, and dental cementum, and some differences in tooth matrix composition were noted. In addition, the elemental concentrations determined in teeth from subjects of different ages, nutritional states, professions and gender, living under various environmental conditions and dietary habits, were included in a comparison by multivariate statistical analysis (MVSA) methods. By factor analysis it was established that inorganic components of human teeth varied consistently with their source in the tissue, with more in such tissue from females than in that from males, and more in tooth incisor than in tooth molar.

Motivation & Objective

• To evaluate trace element distribution in human tooth tissues using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry.
• To investigate how biological and environmental factors influence trace element concentrations in teeth.
• To identify consistent patterns in inorganic composition across different tooth types and demographic groups.
• To assess the utility of multivariate statistical analysis in interpreting complex trace element data from dental tissues.

Proposed method

• X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) was applied to measure trace element concentrations in whole human teeth and their individual tissues: enamel, dentine, and dental cementum.
• Samples were collected from subjects of varying ages, genders, nutritional states, professions, and environmental exposures.
• Multivariate statistical analysis (MVSA), including factor analysis, was used to detect patterns and correlations in elemental distributions.
• Factor analysis identified underlying components explaining variance in elemental concentrations across different tooth tissues and demographic groups.
• Data were normalized and analyzed to distinguish tissue-specific elemental signatures from demographic influences.
• Statistical models were validated to ensure robustness in identifying consistent compositional differences.

Experimental results

Research questions

• RQ1 How do trace element concentrations vary across different tooth tissues (enamel, dentine, cementum) in human teeth?
• RQ2 What is the influence of gender on the inorganic composition of human teeth?
• RQ3 How do age, nutrition, profession, and environmental conditions affect trace element levels in dental tissues?
• RQ4 Can multivariate statistical analysis effectively reveal hidden patterns in trace element distribution in teeth?
• RQ5 Are there consistent differences in elemental composition between incisors and molars?

Key findings

• Enamel, dentine, and dental cementum exhibit distinct trace element profiles, indicating tissue-specific inorganic composition.
• Females show significantly higher concentrations of inorganic components in their tooth tissues compared to males.
• Incisors contain more inorganic material than molars, suggesting a consistent difference in mineral content between tooth types.
• Factor analysis revealed that elemental composition patterns are consistently linked to tissue type and demographic factors such as gender and tooth type.
• The study confirms that XRF combined with MVSA is effective in detecting subtle but significant variations in trace element distribution in human teeth.
• Environmental and lifestyle factors such as diet and occupation contributed to measurable differences in elemental concentrations, though less consistently than biological factors.