BEVERAGE EFFECTS ON HUMAN TOOTH ENAMEL
Frankie VozzaCentral Catholic High School
Grade 9February 6,2010
PROBLEM
Does the prolonged exposure of human teeth in a beverage effect the thickness of enamel?
DENTAL PRINCIPLES
The profession of diagnosing and treating conditions that occur in the tissues of the mouth
Necessary for complete overall health
THE HUMAN TOOTH
TOOTH ANATOMY: ENAMEL
Hardest and most mineralized substance of the body.
96 % percent mineral with 4% water and other organic material
Often up to 3.1 millimeters thick
TOOTH ANATOMY-DENTIN
One of the four major components of teeth
Covered by the enamel and surrounds the entire pulp.
Less mineralized than enamel
Necessary for the support of enamel.
70% percent of mineral, 20% percent organic material and 10% percent water.
TOOTH ANATOMY- PULP
Softest part of the tooth
Lies in the root and extends all of the way to the top part of the tooth
The pulp contains: blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue
Essential for supplying the tooth with nutrients and sensation.
TOOTH ANATOMY- NERVE
Contained in the pulp of the tooth.
Send signals to the brain that convey where the teeth are in the mouth (If the mouth is open or closed).
Supplies sensation of pain
TOOTH ANATOMY PERIODONTAL LIGAMENTSpecialized tissues that attach the tooth to the bone
Acts as guard in which it detects the forces being placed on the teeth
Supporting tissue and is about 0.2 millimeters in width
Breakdown of Enamel
Occurs within the deep grooves, pits, and fissures of enamel.
These locations are impossible to reach with a toothbrush and allow for bacteria to reside
Leads to the demineralization of enamel
Breakdown of Enamel
Sugars from candies, soft drinks, and juices play a significant role in tooth decay.
pH in the mouth initially decreases from the ingestion of sugars
Enamel is demineralized and
left vulnerable for about 30 minutes.
Enamel begins to demineralize and eventually the acid eats away into the thickness of the enamel
ACIDITY OF USED BEVERAGES
pH scale: a range of values that are used to express acidity or basicity of a solution.
Describes a solution in which is lower than 7 is acidic and higher than 7 is basic. ( 7 is neutral)
Beverage Acidity Level(Ph scale)
Coke Classic 2.53
Milk, 2% 6.8
Orange Juice 3.30-4.15
Tap Water 4.0-7.0
Pure Water 7.0
PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE
To determine if the prolonged exposure to a beverage has an effect on tooth enamel.
Null Hypothesis
Prolonged exposure of enamel in tested beverages will not significantly reduce enamel thickness.
Alternative Hypothesis
Prolonged exposure of enamel in tested beverages will cause significant reduction in enamel thickness.
MATERIALS
1.Perioprobe
2. Dissecting Microscope
3. Experimental liquids ( 2% milk ,Coke Classic , orange juice, Tap water, distilled water)
4. Extracted and sterilized human teeth
5. Lab Materials (Plaster mixing equipment)
PROCEDURE1. Observed and recorded initial thickness of enamel
2. Precisely measured the amount of pure water to be put into plastic container with graduated cylinder (1 liter)
3. Sterilized the extracted teeth and visually examined, making sure no defects were present.
4. Mounted four teeth in each plaster trough.
5. Placed the teeth inside the plastic container completely submerged in liquid.
7. Let the teeth soak in pure water for twelve hours nonstop then removed teeth from liquid environment for 12 hours.
8. Repeated Step 6 for Four weeks daily.
8. After four weeks, teeth were removed and rinsed thoroughly.
9. Teeth were then sectioned with a diamond toothed cutting bur by dental student at Univ. of Pittsburgh Dental School.
10. Used a perioprobe (dental instrument) to measure the thickness of enamel at cusp tips using dissecting microscope provided by CCHS.
11. Recorded the data in a Record Book and computed averages.
12. Made general visual and tactile observations and recorded findings.
13. Repeated Steps 5-12 with each set of mounted teeth in their respective experimental liquid ( 2%Milk, Classic Coke, Orange Juice, Tap water).
14. Compared data charts together and analyzed results, making comparisons of enamel thickness measurements.
INITIAL ENAMEL THICKNESS
Beverage
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Average
Water 3.0 3.0 3.1 2.9 3.0
Orange Juice
3.0 2.9 2.8 3.0 2.925
2% Milk 3.0 2.8 3.1 2.8 2.925
Tap Water 2.9 3.0 2.9 2.8 2.90
ClassicCoke
3.0 2.8 3.1 2.8 2.95
Table 1. Thickness Recorded with perioprobe
Final Enamel ThicknessBeverage Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Average Observations
Water 3.0 3.0 3.1 2.9 3 No observable change
Orange Juice
2.75 2.50 2.4 2.7 2.5625 Teeth appeared more translucent than control
2% Milk 3.0 2.4 2.7 2.5 2.65 No observable change
Tap Water 2.75 3.0 2.9 2.4 2.7625 No observable change
ClassicCoke
2.7 2.3 2.6 2.2 2.525 Dark brown color extended deep into tooth with soft outer surface
Table 2. Thicknesses of Enamel measured under dissecting microscope and general observations.
Beverage
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Trial 4 Average Changed
Orange Juice
8.33% 16.66% 14.28% 13.33% 13.15%
2% Milk 0% 14.28% 14.81% 10.71%% 9.95%
Tap Water 5.17% 3.44% 3.57% 14.28% 6.61%%
Coke Classic
11.11% 17.85% 16.12% 21.42% 16.625%
Percent Change Between Initial and Final Enamel
Thickness
Percent changed by millimeters
DECREASE OF ENAMEL THICKNESS
Water Orange Juice Milk Tap Water Pop 0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
0.4
0.45
Average changed
Tested Beverages
En
amel
Th
ickn
ess
Ch
ang
ed
P= 0.001601
ANOVA Analysis of variance
Statistical test comparing variation within and between experimental groups
If the P-value is lower than the value (.05), then the result is significant ( a result of the variable influence )
Anova: Single Factor
SUMMARY
Groups Count Sum Average Variance
Column 1 4 0 0 0
Column 2 4 1.45 0.3625 0.005625
Column 3 4 1.1 0.275 0.035833
Column 4 4 0.55 0.1375 0.035625
Column 5 4 1.9 0.475 0.015833
ANOVA
Source of Variation SS df MS F P-value F crit
Between Groups 0.55625 4 0.139063 7.483184 0.001601 3.055568
Within Groups 0.27875 15 0.018583
Total 0.835 19
ENAMEL THICKNESS DUNNETT’S TESTT- CRITICAL= 3.70
Beverage T-Value Interpretation
Orange Juice 1.75 Not Significant
2% Milk 1.42 Not Significant
Tap Water .71 Not Significant
Coke Classic 2.46 Not Significant
CONCLUSIONS
Rejected the alternative and accepted the null hypothesis
No significant difference in enamel thickness
Liquids alone cannot cause teeth to decay.
Demineralization did occur but the enamel did not breakdown.
LIMITATIONS, EXTENSIONS, AND FUTURE STUDIES
Limitations
Decay did not exactly occur because chemical, pathological, and mechanical factors were not all present.
Not all teeth were identical.
Extensions, and Future Studies
Larger groups of teeth will be employed in the next series of testing.
Mechanical breakdown will also be a factor
Different acidic beverages will be tested
BIBLIOGRAPHY Bauman, Robert W. Microbiology with Diseases by Taxonomy (2nd Edition) (The Microbiology Place Series). San Francisco: Benjamin Cummings, 2006. Print.
Roberson, Theodore. Sturdevant's Art & Science of Operative Dentistry. Chicago: Mosby-Year Book, 2001. Print.
Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. 2006. The Animal Diversity Web (online). Accessed January 29, 2010 at http://animaldiversity.org.
http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/tc/tooth-decay-topic-overview