title: Subsurface demineralization in dental enamel and other permeable solids during acid dissolution.
abstract: Subsurface demineralization of dental enamel during acid dissolution has been reported many times, but its cause remains obscure. At first, the phenomenon was thought to result from the physical structure of enamel. More recent studies have shown that subsurface demineralization occurs in other permeable solids, indicating that there must be more fundamental factors involved in this curious effect. In order for this phenomenon to be investigated, dissolution experiments were carried out by means of real-time scanning microradiography in various systems, including enamel, or aggregates of hydroxyapatite (calcium, strontium, or barium), or hydroxides (calcium or magnesium). These were chosen to discriminate between effects of structure and composition. It was found that it was not possible for the demineralization observed in these systems to be attributed to a common feature. From this, it is concluded that subsurface demineralization in enamel and other mineralized tissues should not be ascribed to a single cause.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Dental Health, London Hospital Medical College, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Elliott
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000737:chemistry; D019342:Acetic Acid; D017609:Barium Compounds; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D003747:Dental Enamel Solubility; D017886:Durapatite; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D005459:Fluorides / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D006878:Hydroxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D006882:Hydroxyapatites / Q000737:chemistry*; D007773:Lactates / Q000737:chemistry; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008276:Magnesium Hydroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D010756:Phosphoric Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D012995:Solubility; D013324:Strontium; D017001:Tooth Demineralization / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D017609:Barium Compounds; D005290:Ferric Compounds; D006878:Hydroxides; D006882:Hydroxyapatites; D007773:Lactates; D010756:Phosphoric Acids; C076185:strontium hydroxyapatite; C041297:barium hydroxyapatite; C000499:ferric oxide; D019344:Lactic Acid; D017886:Durapatite; C030242:phosphoric acid; D008276:Magnesium Hydroxide; D002126:Calcium Hydroxide; D019342:Acetic Acid; D005459:Fluorides; D013324:Strontium