RESISTANCE OF ENAMEL TO DENTAL CARIES

¹ Department of Oral Pathology and Dental Research, College of Dentistry, Baylor University, Dallas, Texas

Caries of enamel is defined as the invasion of the organic matter of the enamel by proteolytic organisms.

There are some significant differences in the permeability of different teeth to silver nitrate. This becomes of importance because silver nitrate and the caries may progress along the same pathways, the prism sheaths and enamel lamellae.

Some areas of enamel are better calcified than others. In some cases the prism sheaths become calcified. This variation may occur between different places in the same tooth as well as between different teeth. These areas of better calcification are highly resistant to dental caries.

Some enamel lamellae are protected against invasion of microorganisms by hornification of the entrances. It is possible that the lamellae may also be protected by their impregnation with some protecting element of the saliva.

Dental caries may be prevented if the prism sheaths and enamel lamellae are rendered impassable to microorganisms.