CALCIUM AND PHOSPHORUS IN TEETH FROM CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT CYSTIC-FIBROSIS

The objective of this study is to analyze the percentage of Ca and P in teeth from children with and without cystic fibrosis with respect to different variables, namely, gender, age, type of teeth, area fluoridation of water supply, term of pregnancy, and maternal smoking and drinking habits. The method of analysis is proton-induced X-ray emission and proton-induced gamma emission on tooth-crown samples. T-test results show less Ca in the teeth of the population of CF + NT (cystic fibrosis + nontetracycline antibiotics) than in that of NCF (noncystic fibrosis) for incisors and the total tooth population. It also shows greater Ca for incisors than for nonincisors for NCF. Teeth from urban CF + NT have less Ca than those from urban NCF. This holds for the total area population. Both Ca and P in teeth of NCF population living in fluoridated areas are greater than in those living in nonfluoridated area. Ca is depleted in the teeth of CF + NT children whose mothers smoke and P is depleted in the teeth of NCF children whose mothers drink. High and low Ca and P values for individual teeth are reported.