A new study presented at the International Association for Dental Research’s (IADR) 93rd General Session and Exhibition demonstrates the link between dental health and hair disorders. Scientists at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) found that certain types of hair keratins called keratin 75 (K75) are also vital organic contents of mature enamel.

Together with colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh, the NIAMS team led by Maria Morosso analysed the intra-oral records and genetic information of 706 adults and 386 children. They discovered that the severity of tooth decay correlated with mutations in keratin 75. Individuals with K75 mutation also had changes in the tooth enamel toughness and structure. Using transmission and scanning electron microscopy (TEM and SEM), micro-hardness testing and other techniques the researchers were able to assess the effect of hair keratin mutations on the rigidity and structure of tooth enamel.

Keratin 75 is needed in the formation of nails and hair. Alterations in this gene have been linked to hair disorders such as shave bumps and some skin irritations. The findings suggest the importance of a healthy keratin complex in maintaining hard tooth enamel. It also shows how this gene position relates hair disorders with vulnerability to dental caries and other tooth defects. Results of this study are published online in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Tooth decay is one of the most ubiquitous disorders worldwide. Understanding the function of epithelial hair keratins in the tooth structure may shed light on new methods to fight dental defects. Demineralisation of the enamel due to bacteria activity allows caries to penetrate. More than 2.43 billion people worldwide have caries in their permanent teeth, while around 620 million have cavities in their baby teeth. According to the World Health Organisation, 60 to 90 percent of school children and almost 100 percent of grownups have tooth cavities. Low incidence of dental caries in children have been reported in Sweden, Australia, Nepal, Greenland, China and East Africa. Reduction in dental caries incidence in other developed countries can be attributed to improved dental hygiene and oral health programmes.

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