How Does Tooth Enamel Change as we Age?
Table of Contents
- 1. How Does Tooth Enamel Change as we Age?
- 2. Zooming In: Atom Probe Tomography Unveils Enamel Secrets
- 3. Unveiling the Secrets of Aging Enamel
- 4. Q: Jack, your recent study in
- 5. Q: Your team utilized a cutting-edge technique called atom probe tomography. Why was this method crucial to your research?
- 6. Q: This research offers valuable insights. What are some of the next steps in exploring the connection between aging and enamel brittleness?
- 7. Q: These findings have notable implications for oral health. what advice would you give to our readers about maintaining strong enamel throughout their lives?
Scientists are delving into the microscopic world of tooth enamel to understand why our teeth become more brittle as we age. Researchers from the University of Washington adn the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory recently examined enamel samples from two individuals – one young (22 years old) and one older (56 years old) – to uncover the secrets of aging enamel.
Published in the journal Communications Materials on December 19, their study found that the older enamel sample contained higher fluoride levels, particularly concentrated in the outer shell regions of the enamel’s crystalline structure.
Zooming In: Atom Probe Tomography Unveils Enamel Secrets
To investigate these age-related changes, the researchers utilized a cutting-edge technique called atom probe tomography. This advanced imaging method allowed them to create detailed, 3D maps of each individual atom within the enamel samples.As lead author Jack Grimm, a doctoral student at the University of Washington, explained, “We’re interested in understanding exactly how the mineral content is changing. And if you want to see that, you have to look at the scale of atoms.”
Co-senior author Dwayne Arola, a UW professor of materials science and engineering, added, “in the past, everything that we’ve done in my lab is on a much larger scale—maybe a tenth the size of a human hair. On that scale, it’s impossible to see the distribution of the relative mineral and organic portions of the enamel crystalline structure.”
While this research provides valuable insights into the atomic makeup of aging enamel, further investigations are needed to fully understand why protein levels decrease in enamel over time, leading to increased brittleness and a higher risk of cracking.
Unveiling the Secrets of Aging Enamel
Today, we’re diving into the fascinating world of tooth enamel with lead author Jack Grimm, a doctoral student at the University of Washington, to discuss his groundbreaking research on how our teeth change as we age.
Q: Jack, your recent study in
Communications Materials revealed intriguing findings about the composition of aging enamel. Can you elaborate on what you discovered?
**Jack Grimm:** Absolutely.We analyzed enamel samples from a young individual and a substantially older individual. Surprisingly, the older sample contained higher fluoride concentrations, particularly concentrated in the outer layers of the enamel’s crystalline structure.This suggests that fluoride uptake may play a role in enamel aging.
Q: Your team utilized a cutting-edge technique called atom probe tomography. Why was this method crucial to your research?
**Jack Grimm:** Atom probe tomography allows us to visualize individual atoms within a material, providing unprecedented detail. Previous research on enamel relied on larger-scale imaging,which couldn’t reveal the fine-grained changes occurring at the atomic level.This technology was essential for understanding the nuanced shifts in mineral content that accompany aging.
Q: This research offers valuable insights. What are some of the next steps in exploring the connection between aging and enamel brittleness?
**Jack Grimm:** We’re eager to investigate why protein levels decrease in enamel over time. This protein loss is strongly linked to increased brittleness and a higher risk of cracking.Further research is needed to fully understand these mechanisms and potentially develop strategies to maintain enamel health as we age.
Q: These findings have notable implications for oral health. what advice would you give to our readers about maintaining strong enamel throughout their lives?
**Jack Grimm:** Maintaining good oral hygiene practices, including regular brushing and flossing, is basic.Additionally, limiting sugary drinks and acidic foods, which can erode enamel, is crucial. consider discussing fluoride treatments with your dentist to help strengthen your enamel.
Do you think fluoride treatments alone are sufficient to combat age-related enamel changes? We’d love to hear your thoughts!
