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This study aimed to determine the contribution of the underlying dentine and the enamel-dentine junction to measurements of mineral loss from enamel recorded using quantitative light fluorescence (QLF). Sixteen square blocks (5 × 5 mm) were cut from the labial surfaces of extracted bovine incisor teeth. A dental drill was used to remove dentine and the enamel-dentine junction from half of each specimen. All specimens were embedded in epoxy resin and ground to produce a smooth, flat enamel surface. Half of the enamel surface of the block, perpendicular to where the dentine had been removed, was demineralised for 72 h prior to undertaking QLF measurements from the enamel surface to compare fluorescence loss from different areas of the block. QLF readings taken from lesions with no underlying dentine or enamel-dentine junction were very similar to readings from lesions with underlying dentine. A comparison of the two data sets demonstrated a linear relationship with a gradient of 0.95 and a y intercept of –1.24 (r2 = 0.936). From these data, the underlying dentine and enamel-dentine junction did not influence mineral loss in enamel measured using QLF.

Two independent cross-over studies have now been carried out to evaluate the effect of a regime of chewing sucrose-containing gum on enamel lesion remineralization. The first study has been reported in detail elsewhere. This further study aimed to increase the data set with an additional 13 volunteers. Similar protocols were followed in both studies. Weighted averages from the two studies showed delta z values corresponding to 16.8% remineralization for the gum versus 11.6% remineralization for the control (p = 0.046, two-sided). A significant difference between test and control was evident for lesion body (p = 0.0004, two-sided) but not for surface zone (p = 0.32, two-sided).

The aims of this study were firstly to investigate the fluoride-releasing characteristics of five commercial glass ionomer materials: Ketac Fil, Chemfil Superior, Fuji II LC, Aquacem and Vitrebond. The second aim was to assess the fluoride uptake and subsequent release from the same range of materials. In both tests, ten discs, 6 mm in diameter with a thickness of 1.5 mm, were made for each material. The initial fluoride release was assessed over a 60-day period for all materials. Each disc was immersed in 2 ml of de-ionised water within a plastic vial. The solutions were changed daily up to day 15, and thereafter every 3 and 4 days until the end of the test. All of the materials released measurable amounts of fluoride throughout the test period, with a considerable range on day 1 (15.3-155.2 ppm F). The concentration of fluoride released on the 2nd day fell sharply for all materials (range 6.3-44.3 ppm F). By day 60 all materials continued to release fluoride, albeit to a lesser extent (range 0.9-3.99 ppm F). With regard to the uptake and release of fluoride, a similar protocol was employed, although all samples were immersed in 1 litre of de-ionised water for 60 days to allow the majority of the fluoride to leach out from the materials. The ten pellets for each material were divided into two groups, five samples as control and five samples as test. Each day over a 20-day period all test samples were exposed to a 1000-ppm F solution for 2 min.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

An in vitro pH-cycling experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of fluoride concentration on enamel demineralization and remineralization. Artificial caries lesions were formed in an acid-buffered solution and subjected daily to a 3-hour acid attack, a 5-min immersion in the test NaF solution (0, 1, 250, 500, 1,000, 1,750 and 2,500 ppm F), and to 21 h in an artificial saliva. Changes in mineral content were assessed weekly for 5 weeks using microradiography/microdensitometry. The lesions in the control group (0 ppm F) and the 1-ppm F group demineralized. Remineralization was significantly higher in the 500-ppm F group compared to the 250-ppm F group. However, higher fluoride concentrations did not produce any further significant increase in remineralization. Laminations were apparent in lesions subjected to the 250- and 500-ppm F solutions.

Plaque pH was measured using a glass combination pH microelectrode of plaque deposits lining the trough of an intra-oral appliance which contained single sections of human teeth with artificial enamel lesions. Plaque exposure to a 10% sucrose solution produced significantly lower plaque pH levels than a solution of sorbitol gum extract. The subsequent flow of saliva over the plaque/pH electrode interface resulted in a significant and rapid increase in pH. Repeat experiments, using deionised water instead of saliva, demonstrated no increase in pH at the plaque/electrode interface. This system may provide a convenient method of producing plaque suitable for repeated pH analysis in intimate association with artificial enamel lesions. This may permit further study of the relationship between plaque acidogenicity, salivary buffering capacity and mineral change within the incipient enamel lesion.

The microbiological species and acid/anion profiles of the plaque-like material which accumulates on exposed surfaces of enamel sections mounted in the experimental troughs of the previously described

A novel lower removable acrylic appliance to investigate the pathogenesis of the incipient carious lesion in enamel is described. Pilot enamel demineralisation and remineralisation studies have been u