Determination of Sr/Ca ratio in teeth samples by photoactivation analysis

There are alkaline earth metals present in the structure of teeth like strontium (Sr), calcium (Ca), barium (Ba) and magnesium (Mg). The Sr/Ca ratio is a frequently used parameter of these alkali metals. The ratios of strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) elements which are found abundantly in teeth will have benefits in biological, archeological and anthropological studies. Besides, this study is expected to provide an insight on health issues like eating habits -therefore welfare levels-of people within different time frames, effects of breastfeeding, environmental influence on disease and nutritional status, determination of age-race, evaluation of teeth quality, and evaluation of treatment success of teeth recovery. Our aim in this thesis study is to determine the ratios of strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) elements in human teeth samples of different ages, and investigate the effects of nutrition attitudes and age on Sr/Ca ratios. Teeth samples will be collected from the patients of Akdeniz University Faculty of Dentistry. The collected samples and standards (SrO and CaO) will be irradiated for a specific period of time under high energy photons with a clinical linear accelerator (cLINAC) of 18 MeV bremsstrahlung energy to achieve photo activation. Afterwards, the samples and standards will be analyzed with gamma spectroscopic analysis method using an HPGe detector system. Photo activation analysis, a non-destructive method, will be used for the first time associated with medical sciences in our country. As a result of this thesis study, it has been concluded that photoactivation analysis method is a suitable method for the determination of Sr/Ca ratios in teeth samples. A database on Sr/Ca ratios has been formed for the first time in Turkey. This database will also set an example for future studies. As a result of data analysis, it has been obtained that Sr/Ca ratio has a more pronounced effect in age category of 12-18 compared with other age categories. Moreover, the effect of beef consumption on the Sr/Ca ratio has been examined, and it has been established that the contribution of the beef consumption in the range of 12-18 age to the Sr/Ca ratio is higher than the one in other age ranges. Finally, the relationship between the fizzy drink and Sr/Ca ratio has been searched, and it has been seen that the fizzy drink consumption in the 12-18 age category also plays an important role on the determination of the Sr/Ca ratio when compared with the other age categories.