The Solution of Calcium and Phosphorus from the Intact Enamel Surface

¹ Nuffield Department of Industrial Health, University of Durham, King's College, Newcastle upon Tyne, England

Incisor teeth covered with wax, except for a small area of the labial enamel surface, were shaken individually with buffered acid solutions at 37° C. over a range of pH from 2.0 to 5.0. The amounts of calcium and phosphorus dissolved from the teeth were estimated chemically.

At pH levels 2.0 and 4.0, the range in values of the dissolved Ca/P ratio is fairly small, but at pH 5.0 the range extends from 0.38 to 7.00. The possible effect of the carbonate and excess phosphate of the enamel, on the dissolved Ca/P ratio is discussed, and it is concluded that, at pH 5.0, high dissolved Ca/P ratios are associated with high calcium solubilities, and low Ca/P ratios with low calcium solubilities.