Journal of Dental Research, Vol 65, 955-958, Copyright © 1986 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
The vulnerability of unexposed human dental roots to demineralization
P. M. Hoppenbrouwers, F. C. Driessens and J. M. Borggreven
Crowns and roots of human molars, the roots from which had not been exposed
to the oral environment, were exposed for 0, 3.5, 7, and 14 days to buffer
solutions which were undersaturated or supersaturated with respect to
hydroxyapatite. Densitometric measurements on contact-microradiograms of
transverse sections of the crowns and of the cervical parts of the roots
yielded plots of the mineral content as a function of the distance to the
outer surface. From these plots, the rate of demineralization was
calculated. It was found that the mineral of the roots dissolved even in
buffer solutions which were supersaturated with respect to hydroxyapatite.
Comparison of the results obtained from the crowns with those from the
roots showed that the root hard tissues were more vulnerable to
demineralization than was the dental enamel.
