Abstract
To examine the applicability of elastic recoil detection analysis (ERDA) in studying element constituents of dental hard tissues.
The concentration of all elements using high-energy heavy ions was detected in extracted teeth of both dentitions. The main elements present in enamel (calcium, phosphorus, oxygen, hydrogen), along with nitrogen, carbon, fluorine, sodium, magnesium and zinc, were measured. Concentrations and depth profiles were calculated and compared with simulation data generated using two programs, KONZERD and SIMNRA.
Enamel calcium, phosphorus, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, fluorine, sodium, magnesium and, occasionally, zinc were detected. One-third of samples showed a constant concentration of the constituents over the analyzed depth, whereas the remaining samples had pronounced surface contaminations of carbon and nitrogen. Although calculation of concentrations with KONZERD gave expected values, simulation with SIMNRA was not possible since no agreement could be obtained between simulated and measured results for the elements.
