title: Evaluation of surface structural and mechanical changes following remineralization of dentin.
abstract: This study sought to gain insights into the surface structural and mechanical changes leading to remineralization of dentin. Remineralization was compared between a continuous remineralization approach and a nonbuffered static approach using solutions of the same initial composition. Artificial carious lesions were treated for 5 days and analyzed every 24 h using nanoindentation in water, SEM, and AFM. The continuous approach yielded a recovery of mechanical properties of up to 60% of normal dentin, whereas the static approach led to recovery of only 10%. Image analysis revealed that the static approach yielded the formation of areas suggestive of an apatite precipitate on the surface of the dentin matrix. In contrast, surface precipitate was absent using the continuous approach, suggesting that mineral formed within the lesion and re-associated with the collagenous matrix. This study provided evidence that mechanical recovery of dentin in near physiological conditions is attainable through the continuous delivery of calcium and phosphate ions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Department of Preventive and Restorative Dentistry, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
authors.forename: Luiz Eduardo
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Bertassoni
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Habelitz
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pugach
authors.forename: Paulo Cesar
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Sally Jean
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: Grayson William
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Marshall
mesh_terms: D001031:Apatites / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D003804:Dentin / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006801:Humans; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010710:Phosphates / Q000378:metabolism; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D014089:Tooth Remineralization
chemical_list: D001031:Apatites; D010710:Phosphates; D002118:Calcium