Journal of Dental Research, Vol 55, 797-804, Copyright © 1976 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Enamel solubility rate measurements in vivo on naval recruits
B. L. Lamberts, H. J. Keene and S. Levin
Enamel solubility rates were determined in vivo to depths of 1 to 2 mum in
the teeth from two samples of naval recruits that had been grouped,
respectively, according to DMFT scores and visual indexes of oral hygiene
status. No positive correlation between enamel solubility rates and DMFT
scores were observed; rather there was a tendency for caries-resistant
participants to have a highest apparent enamel solubility rates, even
though mean differences among the DMFT groups were not generally
significant. Intra-subject measurements on 12 teeth per participant for
eight of the recruits showed, on the average, only about one half the
variability founl incisors for more than 70 of the recruits. The least
variability was found for measurements on paired maxillary central
incisors. It was concluded that factors such as tooth morphology and, in
particular, tooth-surface films could considerably affect enamel solubility
rates measured in vivo.
