[Mineral content of enamel, depth of biopsy, and dentition status in postmenopausal women].

Purpose: The study was designed to evaluate the relationship between the content of fluoride, magnesium and phosphorus in enamel, depth of biopsy, and dentition status in postmenopausal women.

Material And Methods: Dentition status in 81 postmenopausal women aged 48-70 years (mean 54.98 years) was determined using the Decayed, Missing and Filled Surfaces (DMFS) index. Double-layer superimposed acid biopsies were used for sampling labial enamel of upper permanent central incisor. Biochemical analysis was performed to determine the content of fluoride, magnesium, and phosphorus. Assuming that enamel contains 37% calcium, enamel mass, layer thickness, biopsy depth and concentrations of ions in the surface and subsurface layer were calculated. Correlation analysis was done to disclose relationships between the parameters studied.

Conclusions: It was observed that the concentration of ions decreased with growing depth of biopsy. Decreasing depth of biopsy correlated with increasing concentration of fluorides and magnesium in surface and subsurface layer of enamel. The total depth of biopsy correlated more exactly with the concentration of fluorides and magnesium in subsurface layer than in surface layer. Increasing concentration of fluoride was associated with increasing concentration of magnesium. No correlation was observed between DMFS and the depth of enamel biopsy.