Evaluation of Enamel-Rehardening Agents in Saliva

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Teeth are mounted in wax, and a small area of the enamel is ground and polished. The hardness of this surface is measured. The teeth are then softened with oral microorganisms in the artificial mouth or with .001 [image] potassium acetate buffer at pH 5, and the hardness is again measured. Each softened tooth is treated with 7 cc of pooled saliva and shaken for 1 hour at 37 C. The tooth is washed thoroughly with water and the surface hardness is again measured. The rehardening process is repeated 3 more times to give a total of 4 hours of rehardening. The agents being tested may be added directly to control stimulated saliva and the above process repeated. Dicalcium phosphate is effective in rehardening softened dental enamel under the conditions of this test.