Influence of fluoride and pH on in vitro remineralization of bovine enamel

Subsurface lesions in bovine enamel slices were remineralized. The remineralization solutions contained either 0.03, 0.3, or 1.0 ppm fluoride at either pH 5.5 or 6.8. The amount of remineralization was determined after periods of up to 610 h, using quantitative microradiography. The results showed that after 126 h of remineralization in the presence of 0.03 ppm fluoride significantly (p less than 0.05) more remineralization occurred at pH 6.8 than at pH 5.5. At 0.3 and 1.0 ppm fluoride no significant differences between pH 5.5 and pH 6.8 were observed. An interaction between fluoride and pH was observed. The observed differences in the rates of remineralization are explained by the formation and subsequent transformation of the precursors octacalcium phosphate (pH 6.8) and brushite (pH 5.5) into (fluor)apatites.