Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of teeth as biomarkers for skeletal fluoride exposure

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Osteoporosis International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Skeletal fluorosis and dental fluorosis are diseases related to fluoride (F) ingestion. Bone is the largest storage site of F in our body. Therefore, bone F concentrations are considered biomarkers for total F body burden (exposure). However, difficult accessibility limits its use as a biomarker. Thus, a more accessible tissue should be considered and analyzed as a biomarker for total F body burden. The objective of this study, which was divided into two parts, was to evaluate teeth as a biomarker for skeletal F exposure. In part 1 of the study, 70 mice of three different strains (SWR/J, A/J and 129P3/J) were exposed to different levels of water fluoridation (0, 25, 50 and 100 ppm). Bone (femora and vertebrae) and teeth from these mice were then analyzed for F concentration using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). In part 2 of the study, human teeth (enamel and dentin) and bone from 30 study subjects were collected and analyzed for F concentration using INAA. Study subjects lived in areas with optimum levels of water fluoridation (0.7 and 1 ppm) and underwent therapeutic extraction of their unerupted third molars. The values of bone and teeth F concentration were correlated for parts 1 and 2 of this study. The results showed that in the animal model, where animals were exposed to a wide range of F in their drinking water, tooth [F] correlated with bone [F]. However, no correlation was seen between bone and enamel F concentrations or between bone and dentin F concentrations in the human samples. Therefore, teeth are not good biomarkers for skeletal F exposure in humans when exposure is confined to optimum levels of F in the drinking water.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ripa LW (1993) A half-century of community water fluoridation in the United States: review and commentary. J Public Health Dent 53:17–44

    Google Scholar 

  2. Corbin SB (1989) Fluoridation then and now. Am J Public Health 79:561–563

    Google Scholar 

  3. Whitford GM (1996) The metabolism and toxicity of fluoride. Monographs in Oral Science, 2nd edn. Karger, Amsterdam

  4. Meunier PJ (2001) Anabolic agents for treating postmenopausal osteoporosis. Joint Bone Spine 68:576–581

    Google Scholar 

  5. National Research Council (1993) Health effects of ingested fluoride. National Research Council (ed). National Academy Press, USA

  6. McDonagh M, Whiting P, Bradley M, Cooper J, Sutton A, Chestnutt I, Misso K, Wilson P, Treasure E, Kleijen J (2000) A systematic review of public water fluoridation. NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York

  7. Fejerskov O, Burt BA, Ekstrand J (eds) (1996) Fluoride in dentistry, 2nd edn. Munksgaard, Copenhagen

  8. Fejerskov O, Larsen MJ, Richards A, Baelum V (1994) Dental tissue effects of fluoride. Adv Dent Res 8:15–31

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. DenBesten PK (1994) Dental fluorosis: its use as a biomarker. Adv Dent Res 8:105–110

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Murray JJ, Rugg-Gunn AJ, Jenkins GN (1991) Epidemiology and measurement of dental fluorosis. Fluoride in caries prevention. Wright, Oxford, pp 222–261

  11. Thylstrup A (1983) Posteruptive development of isolated and confluent pits in fluorosed enamel in a 6-year-old girl. Scand J Dent Res 91:243–246

    Google Scholar 

  12. Thylstrup A, Fejerskov O (1978) Clinical appearance of dental fluorosis in permanent teeth in relation to histologic changes. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 6:315–328

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Fejerskov O, Manji F, Baelum V, Moller IJ (1988) Dental fluorosis: a handbook for health workers. Munksgaard, Copenhagen

    Google Scholar 

  14. Whitford GM (1994) Intake and metabolism of fluoride. Adv Dent Res 8:5–14

    Google Scholar 

  15. Sampaio FC (2000) Flouride exposures and biomarkers in humans. Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Norway

  16. Whitford GM, Sampaio FC, Arneberg P, der Fehr FR (1999) Fingernail fluoride: a method for monitoring fluoride exposure. Caries Res 33:462–467

    Google Scholar 

  17. WHO Expert Committee on Oral Health Status and Fluoride Use (eds) (1994) Fluorides and oral health. WHO Geneva 846:37

    Google Scholar 

  18. WHO Expert Committee on Oral Health Status and Fluoride Use (eds) (1994) Fluorides and oral health. World Health Organization. WHO Technical Report Series, Geneva, p 846

  19. Ten Cate AR (1994) Oral histology: development, structure, and function, 4th edn. Mosby, St. Louis

    Google Scholar 

  20. Mernagh JR, Harrison JE, Hancock R, McNeill KG (1977) Measurement of fluoride in bone. Int J Appl Radiat Isot 28:581–583

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Gordon GE, Randel K, Goles G, Corliss J, Benson M, Oxley S (1968) Instrumental activation analysis of standard rocks with high resolution gamma-ray detectors. Geochimicia et Cosmochimica Acta 32:369–396

    Google Scholar 

  22. Vieira APGF, Hancock R, Schwartz, M., Limeback H, Grynpas MD (2003) How does fluoride concentration in tooth structure effects apatite crystal? J Dent Res 82:909–913

    Google Scholar 

  23. Czarnowski W, Krechniak J (1990) Fluoride in the urine, hair, and nails of phosphate fertiliser workers. Br J Ind Med 47:349–351

    Google Scholar 

  24. Ophaug R (1994) Determination of fluorine in biological materials: reaction paper. Adv Dent Res 8:87–91

    Google Scholar 

  25. Weatherell JA, Deutsch D, Robinson C, Hallsworth AS (1977) Assimilation of fluoride by enamel throughout the life of the tooth. Caries Res 11 [Suppl 1]:85–115

    Google Scholar 

  26. Chavassieux P (1990) Bone effects of fluoride in animal models in vivo. A review and a recent study. J Bone Miner Res 5 [Suppl 1]:S95–S99

  27. Allolio B, Lehmann R (1999) Drinking water fluoridation and bone. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 107:12–20

    Google Scholar 

  28. Dunipace AJ, Brizendine EJ, Zhang W, Wilson ME, Miller LL, Katz BP, Warrick JM, Stookey GK (1995) Effect of aging on animal response to chronic fluoride exposure. J Dent Res 74:358–368

    Google Scholar 

  29. Fonseca RJ (2000) Oral and maxillofacial surgery. Saunders, Philadelphia

  30. Ruzicka JA, Mrklas L, Rokytova K (1973) Influence of water intake on the degree of incisor fluorosis and on the incorporation of fluoride into bones and incisor teeth of mice. Caries Res 7:166–172

    Google Scholar 

  31. McCann HG, Bullock FA (1957) The effect of fluoride ingestion on the composition and solubility of mineralized tissues of the rat. J Dent Res 36:391–398

    Google Scholar 

  32. Briancon D, Meunier PJ (1981) Treatment of osteoporosis with fluoride, calcium, and vitamin D. Orthop Clin North Am 12:629–648

    Google Scholar 

  33. Eriksen EF, Mosekilde L, Melsen F (1985) Effect of sodium fluoride, calcium, phosphate, and vitamin D2 on trabecular bone balance and remodeling in osteoporotics. Bone 6:381–389

    Google Scholar 

  34. Russell AL (1962) Dental fluorosis in Grand Rapids during the 17th year of fluoridation. J Am Dent Assoc 65:608–612

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Butler WJ, Segreto V, Collins E (1985) Prevalence of dental mottling in school-aged lifetime residents of 16 Texas communities. Am J Public Health 75:1408–1412

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Williams JE, Zwemer JD (1990) Community water fluoride levels, preschool dietary patterns, and the occurrence of fluoride enamel opacities. J Public Health Dent 50:276–281

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Eriksen EF, Axelrod DW, Melsen F (1994) Bone histomorphometry. Raven, New York

  38. Simon SR (1994) Orthopaedic basic science. American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Rosemont, IL

  39. Zipkin I (1973) Biological mineralization, 1st edn. John Wiley & Sons, New York

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the oral maxillo-facial surgery departments at the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Toronto and Federal University of Ceara for the samples utilized in this research. We would also like to thank Ms. Deidra Faust for her technical assistance during this study and Dr. Angeles Martienz-Mier for F analyses on food and water samples. This work was funded by a grant from the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) and by the NIH/NIDCR (R01-DE014853) to ETE. AV is the recipient of Harron and Connaught Scholarships.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    A. P. G. F. Vieira & M. D. Grynpas

  2. Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, 600 University Avenue Room 840, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X5, Canada

    A. P. G. F. Vieira & M. D. Grynpas

  3. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain, Belgium

    M. Mousny

  4. Universidade Federal do Ceara, Ceara, Brazil

    R. Maia

  5. Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    R. Hancock

  6. Schools of Dentistry and Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

    E. T. Everett

Authors
  1. A. P. G. F. Vieira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Mousny
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. Maia
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. Hancock
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. E. T. Everett
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M. D. Grynpas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. D. Grynpas.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vieira, A.P.G.F., Mousny, M., Maia, R. et al. Assessment of teeth as biomarkers for skeletal fluoride exposure. Osteoporos Int 16, 1576–1582 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-005-1870-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-005-1870-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation