Etiology of caries in Papua New Guinea. The trace element content of urine samples and its relation to individual dental caries experience.

Samples of urine obtained from 10 adult people in each of 10 selected villages in the Sepik district of New Guinea were analysed to determine the levels of 19 elements thought to be of possible relevance to the prevalence of dental caries, judged by the results of previous research. Subjects with dental caries experience could be distinguished from those who are caries-free on the basis of the content of urine samples, as evidenced by the calculation of a statistically significant discriminant function. The elements most likely to be meaningful in relation to such discrimination are molybdenum, magnesium, copper, lead, phosphorus, strontium, and possibly zirconium and potassium.

Etiology of caries in Papua-New Guinea. Associations in soil, food and water.

Mineral analyses of garden soils, vegetables, and water samples from 21 villages in the Sepik and Fly River regions of the Territory of Papua and New Guinea, in which the mean prevalence of dental caries ranged from 0 to 29.5% decayed teeth per person, have shown the following relationships between variations in the caries prevalence and the amounts of certain elements:(1) A strong inverse association with concentrations of alkali and alkaline earth elements, especially strontium, barium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and lithium, in garden soils.(2) A possible direct association with concentrations of lead and copper in village garden soils.