STRUCTURAL-CHANGES IN FLUOROSED DENTAL ENAMEL OF RED DEER (CERVUS-ELAPHUS L) FROM A REGION WITH SEVERE ENVIRONMENTAL-POLLUTION BY FLUORIDES

A macroscopic, microradiographic and scanning electron microscope stud y was performed on the structure of fluorosed dental enamel in red dee r from a fluoride polluted region (North Bohemia, Czech Republic). As was revealed by analysis of mandibular bone fluoride content, the rate of skeletal fluoride accumulation in the fluorotic deer was about 6 t imes that in controls taken from a region not exposed to excessive flu oride deposition. In all fluorosed mandibles, the Ist molar was consis tently less fluorotic than the other permanent teeth. This was related to the fact that crown formation in the M(1) takes place prenatally a nd during the lactation period. Fluorosed teeth exhibited opaque and p osteruptively stained enamel, reduction or loss of enamel ridges, mode rately to grossly increased wear and, in more severe cases, also ename l surface lesions of partly posteruptive, partly developmental origin. Microradiographically, fluorosed enamel was characterised by subsurfa ce hypomineralisation, interpreted as a result of fluoride interferenc e with the process of enamel maturation. In addition, an accentuation of the incremental pattern due to the occurrence of alternating bands with highly varying mineral content was observed in severely fluorosed teeth, denoting fluoride disturbance during the secretory stage of am elogenesis. A corresponding enhancement of the incremental pattern was also seen in the dentine. The enamel along the more pronounced hypopl asias consisted of stacked, thin layers of crystals arranged in parall el, indicating that the ameloblasts in these locations had lost the di stal (prism-forming) portions of their Tomes processes. The findings o f the present study indicate that red deer are highly sensitive bioind icators of environmental pollution by fluorides.