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The influence of fluoride, carbonate, and fluoride in combination with carbonate on the in vitro remineralization of bovine enamel was investigated with the use of a sandwich technique. After demineralization, enamel slices were subjected for 610 h to remineralizing solutions with 0.03 or 1.0 ppm fluoride. At each fluoride level, either 0, 1, 10, 20, or 25 mmol/L carbonate was tested. After 0, 22, 62, 126, 192, 329, and 610 h of remineralization, contact microradiographs were made by Cu Kα-radiation. At 0.03 ppm fluoride, carbonate had an inhibiting influence on remineralization. At 1.0 ppm fluoride, the inhibiting influence of carbonate changed into a stimulation of remineralization at 20 and 25 mmol/L carbonate. At 0, 1, and 10 mmol/L carbonate, fluoride had an inhibiting influence on remineralization. The differences in remineralization between the groups were explained by events concerning crystal growth, i. e., different types of minerals might have precipitated with differences in precipitation rates, and retardation of a precipitation step might have occurred under the various remineralization conditions. There was a mutual influence of fluoride and carbonate on the remineralization process. We conclude that the composition of the remineralizing solution with respect to fluoride and carbonate concentrations is important for the remineralization process.

Tritiated proline was administered to domestic cats during the development of their permanent dentition. The amount of residual radioactivity was determined autoradiographically at various times after cavity preparation in mature molars and premolars. Two wk after cavity preparation, the amount of radiolabel beneath the axial cavity wall decreased to about 50% of that present in corresponding contralateral cavity-free teeth. The observed decreases are ascribed to an enhancement of the protein metabolism in dentin. At 45 wk, 80-90% of the radiolabel has disappeared. This paper discusses the role of an eventual effect of microleakage on the latter results.

To investigate the permeability of the dental enamel of erupted and unerupted human pre-molars and its variation with depth, we determined the resistivity of successive 100-μm-thick layers. The electrical resistance of halved tooth crowns at zero Hertz, which according to Scholberg et al. (1982, 1984) is inversely related to the permeability, was measured before and after removal of successive enamel layers from the outer surface toward the dentino-enamel junction (D.E.J.). The resistivity of the successive enamel layers increased from the D.E.J. toward the outer surface in approximately the same way in erupted as well as in unerupted pre-molars, except within the outermost layer of 100 to 200 μm thickness. The resistivity of this layer in erupted pre-molars was considerably higher than that in unerupted pre-molars, which may be due to post-eruptive mineralization.

Intact roots of human molars, which had not been exposed to the oral environment, were exposed to buffer solutions of pH 5.5, which contained, besides calcium and phosphate, various concentrations offluoride. Densitometric measurements on contact-microradiograms of transverse sections of these roots produced data which were used to calculate the rate of demineralization ( Vdem). Vdem appeared to be reduced with increasing fluoride concentration and with decreasing pIOHA (i.e., the negative logarithm of the ionic product of hydroxyapatite) of the buffer solution. In addition, it was observed that, after some days of exposure, remineralization started to occur within the surface layer at some μm from the outer surface and that the region within which remineralization took place was extended inward with increasing time of exposure. These data suggest that fluoride is effective in the prevention of root surface caries. The mechanism of the interaction of fluoride with the root mineral is discussed.

Tritiated proline was administered as protein marker to domestic cats during the development of their permanent dentition (age 11-18 wk). At 30, 43, 56, and 75 wk, the amount of tritium in the mature dentin was determined by quantitative autoradiography. At 43, 56, and 75 wk the residual amount of label was 92, 92, and 77%, respectively, of that at 30 wk. The metabolism of dentinal collagen (with possibly a recycling of proline) and the metabolism of non-collagenous proline-containing proteins are suggested as factors that may contribute to the decrease of tritium label.