Characteristics of structural and chemical composition of dental enamel in children with severe neuromotor disabilities

The purpose of this paper was to study the characteristics of structural and chemical composition of dental enamel in children with severe neuromotor disabilities (NMD). Within the framework of this study, we analyzed the composition of intact and carious enamel of different regions in healthy children and children with NMD. The research subject consisted of 48 extracted teeth according to orthodontic indications in 13-15 year-old children. We conducted a scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray spectrum microanalysis, and infrared spectroscopy of tooth enamel samples. The results of the study showed that the samples of enamel from children with NMD have a reduced mass percentage of phosphorus, calcium, chlorine, magnesium and sodium, compared to the mineral composition in the enamel of healthy children. This may be caused by mineralization disturbances that occurred during tooth formation and in the period of post-eruptive mineralization.