Structural Changes in Primary Teeth of Diabetic Children: Composition and Ultrastructure Analysis
Sadatullah Syed,
Syed M. Yassin,
Abdulrahman Yahya Almalki,
Salma Abubaker Abbas Ali,
Abdulaziz M. Maken Alqarni,
Yousef M. Moadi,
Abdulrahman Masoud Alkhaldi,
Nasser M. Alqahtani,
Jagadish Hosmani,
Artak Heboyan,
Shankargouda Patil
Affiliations
Sadatullah Syed
Department of Diagnostic Sciences and Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha 61471, Saudi Arabia
Syed M. Yassin
Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha 61471, Saudi Arabia
Abdulrahman Yahya Almalki
Department of Preventive Dental Sciences, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan 25412, Saudi Arabia
Salma Abubaker Abbas Ali
Department of Diagnostic Sciences and Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha 61471, Saudi Arabia
Abdulaziz M. Maken Alqarni
Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha 61471, Saudi Arabia
Yousef M. Moadi
Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha 61471, Saudi Arabia
Abdulrahman Masoud Alkhaldi
Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontic Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha 61471, Saudi Arabia
Nasser M. Alqahtani
Department of Prosthodontics, College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha 61471, Saudi Arabia
Jagadish Hosmani
Department of Diagnostic Sciences and Oral Biology, College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha 61471, Saudi Arabia
Artak Heboyan
Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Stomatology, Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi, Str. Koryun 2, Yerevan 0025, Armenia
Shankargouda Patil
Department of Maxillofacial Surgery and Diagnostic Sciences, Division of Oral Pathology, College of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan 45412, Saudi Arabia
Diabetes affects the developing enamel by altering the mineralization process, which can have a detrimental effect on oral health. The objectives of this study were to examine the ultrastructure and composition of surface enamel in primary teeth of diabetic children and its clinical implications. Hundred extracted primary teeth from diabetic children (Test group: n = 50) and healthy children (Control group: n = 50), between 6 and 12 years of age, were subjected to scanning electron microscopy to qualitatively examine the enamel surface. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis was performed to investigate the mass percentage of calcium (Ca) and phosphorous (P) in the surface enamel. Ultrastructural aberrations of surface enamel were observed in the test group teeth. Additionally, prism perforations were seen at the junction of rod and inter-rod enamel and the prisms were loosely packed. An even aprismatic layer of surface enamel was evident in the control group teeth. There was a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) of Ca and P mass percentage between the test and control group teeth. The mean mass percentage rates of Ca and P were 33.75% and 16.76%, respectively. A poor surface characteristic and elemental composition of the enamel surface of primary teeth is observed in diabetic children. Therefore, appropriate caries preventive measures are mandatory to maintain the structural integrity of the tooth in these patients.
