Neutron-Irradiated Enamel in Dissolution Studies

¹ Eastman Dental Dispensary, Rochester, New York

The use of neutron-irradiated enamel and tricalcium phosphate in decalcifying studies was investigated. The amount of enamel removed from human and bovine enamel surfaces during decalcification, as assessed by p³² in solution, did not always agree with the amounts of enamel dissolved assessed by colorimetric P determination. It was noted that, as a result of irradiation, a variable amount of P³² (20 to 40 per cent) was converted to non-orthophosphate forms.

It is suggested that these non-orthophosphate forms of p³² do not dissolve in the same way as the rest of the enamel (orthophosphate), and that this may account for the discrepancies.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. Luoma and A-R. Luoma Influences of Sucrose and Buffer Additives on Plaque and 32P of the Enamel Journal of Dental Research, November 1, 1967; 46(6): 1392 - 1399. [PDF]