Dental caries and trace element composition of whole human enamel: Eastern United States.

Whole enamel samples prepared from 208 teeth were analyzed for concentrations of 30 trace elements. Higher concentrations of fluorine and strontium in enamel were found to be related to low caries incidence. The results for strontium were particularly strong in their association with low caries. The trace elements aluminum barium, copper, lithium, and zircronium were positively related to caries whereas silver and tin were negatively related to caries, at weaker associations.