FURTHER STUDIES ON THE IN VITRO DECALCIFICATION OF TEETH

¹ Department of Physiology, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa

1. Much data have been accumulated to show that certain calcium and phosphate salts can protect teeth from the in vitro decalcification which normally follows, if they are incubated in a saliva + sucrose or saliva + refined flour media.

2. The phosphate is more effective in inorganic than in organic combination.

3. The calcium is active in certain organic forms, but on the other hand, has little effect in the inorganic form.

4. Used separately, the calcium compounds are nearly as strongly protective alone as with phosphates; the phosphates are nearly inactive alone.

5. The possibility of redeposition of solid calcium phosphate has been investigated and is reported upon. The author does not attach great significance to this aspect of the work.

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