The Early Stages of Native Enamel Dissolution Studied with Atomic Force Microscopy

In vitro demineralization/remineralization cycles at human tooth enamel surfaces investigated by AFM and nanoindentation

The early stages of enamel surface dissolution (erosion) are of high scientific relevance; however, little is known about if and to what extent these early stages, which result in the softening of the enamel surface, are reversible. The present study investigated the possible rehardening of surface softened enamel in two separate experiments in vitro, employing physiologically relevant demineralization and remineralization times and remineralizing solutions possessing chemical properties close to those of human saliva. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) based nanoindentation has been used to study the nanomechanical properties and the ultrastructure of polished enamel samples as affected by demineralization/remineralization cycles. In contradiction to previous studies employing microhardness techniques, no enamel rehardening has been observed after remineralization; however, the demineralization schemes used in the present study (short treatments with a citric acid buffer) are not comparable to the ones used in previous studies, making a comparison difficult. A mineral deposition after remineralization on softened enamel samples has been observed by AFM; however, a protective effect of this deposited layer could not be revealed. The exposure of softened enamel samples to either a remineralizing solution or a mineral water led to an improved acid resistance of these samples as shown in a demineralization/remineralization cycle. The present study has demonstrated that AFM based nanoindentation is a useful tool to investigate the demineralization and remineralization of surface softened enamel with high accuracy.

The laboratory assessment of enamel erosion: a review

OBJECTIVES

To review the various methods and techniques available to assess enamel erosion in vitro.

DATA

Peer reviewed scientific articles.

SOURCES

Medline and Web of Science searches and manual searching.

STUDY SELECTION

Laboratory based assessments only included.

CONCLUSIONS

A number of macroscopic and microscopic techniques have been used to assess enamel erosion in vitro and in situ. This review examines techniques which are either well established or comparatively novel techniques that are being explored for their potential.

Enamel dissolution in citric acid as a function of calcium and phosphate concentrations and degree of saturation with respect to hydroxyapatite

The aim of this study was to investigate enamel dissolution in citric acid solutions as a function of solution calcium and phosphate concentrations and degree of saturation with respect to hydroxyapatite (DSHA). The primary relevance of the study is the development of soft drinks with reduced erosive potential. Nanoindentation was used to investigate changes in the hardness of polished human enamel surfaces after 120 s and 300 s exposure to solutions with pH 3.30 and a range of calcium and phosphate concentrations. All solutions were undersaturated with respect to hydroxyapatite, with 0.000 < or = DSHA < or = 0.295. A complex dependence of enamel softening on calcium concentration was observed. Substantial enamel softening occurred in solutions with calcium concentrations equal to or less than 120 mm (DSHA approximately 0.104), but there was little or no statistically significant softening of the enamel for calcium concentrations over 120 mm. This condition may be applicable to soft drink formulation. Furthermore, solutions with DSHA = 0.101 and different calcium/phosphate ratios resulted in different degrees of softening of the enamel. Hence, contrary to assumptions made in many models, enamel dissolution is not simply a function of DSHA, and individual calcium and phosphate concentrations are critical.

Enamel dissolution as a function of solution degree of saturation with respect to hydroxyapatite: a nanoindentation study

The objective of this study was to investigate human enamel dissolution as a function of degree of saturation (DS) of the surrounding solution with respect to hydroxyapatite. Nanoindentation was used to compare changes in enamel nanomechanical properties due to dissolution by two solutions. Citric acid solution (DS=0.000, pH 3.30) and citric acid solution containing calcium (299 mg/l) and phosphate (54.0 mg/l) (DS=0.032, pH 3.30) were compared with a control mineral water (DS=0.673, pH 7.48). Exposure times were 0, 120, 300, 600, 900, and 1200 s. Compared to untreated enamel, there was a statistically significant change in enamel hardness after 120 s exposure to both citric acid solutions, and in elastic modulus after 300 s exposure. The rate of change of both variables decreased with exposure time. This suggests that dissolution rate is diffusion-limited under these conditions, in agreement with previous studies. There was no statistically significant difference between the hardness or elastic modulus of enamel exposed to the two citric acid solutions at any time. This may be due to a change in solution composition during contact with the enamel.

Human enamel dissolution in citric acid as a function of pH in the range 2.30< or =pH< or =6.30--a nanoindentation study

The objective of this study was to investigate the dissolution of human enamel in citric acid solutions over a wide range of pH. The in vitro conditions are considered to be relevant to soft drink-induced enamel erosion. Nanoindentation was used to investigate changes in the nanomechanical properties of polished enamel surfaces after exposure to citric acid solutions. Solutions used had 38.1 mmol l-1 citric acid and pH greater than 2.3 but less than 6.3 (2.30 < or = pH < or = 6.30). Samples were exposed to rapidly stirred, constant composition solutions for 120 s. Statistically significant changes in enamel hardness and reduced elastic modulus were observed after exposure to all solutions. There was an approximately linear dependence of enamel hardness on solution pH for 2.90 < or = pH < or = 6.30. Below pH 2.90, enamel is thought to have reached the lowest possible hardness value. The reduction in enamel dissolution caused by an increase in pH of a soft drink is likely to be small. Product modification to reduce the erosive potential of drinks may require additional methods such as addition of calcium salts.