Journal of Dental Research, Vol 66, 1370-1374, Copyright © 1987 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals

ARTICLES

The demineralization of human dental roots in the presence of fluoride

P. M. Hoppenbrouwers, F. C. Driessens and J. M. Borggreven

Intact roots of human molars, which had not been exposed to the oral environment, were exposed to buffer solutions of pH 5.5, which contained, besides calcium and phosphate, various concentrations of fluoride. Densitometric measurements on contact-microradiograms of transverse sections of these roots produced data which were used to calculate the rate of demineralization (Vdem). Vdem appeared to be reduced with increasing fluoride concentration and with decreasing pIOHA (i.e., the negative logarithm of the ionic product of hydroxyapatite) of the buffer solution. In addition, it was observed that, after some days of exposure, remineralization started to occur within the surface layer at some micron from the outer surface and that the region within which remineralization took place was extended inward with increasing time of exposure. These data suggest that fluoride is effective in the prevention of root surface caries. The mechanism of the interaction of fluoride with the root mineral is discussed.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J.D. Eick, A.J. Gwinnett, D.H. Pashley, and S.J. Robinson Current Concepts On Adhesion To Dentin Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine, January 1, 1997; 8(3): 306 - 335. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Almqvist and F. Lagerlof Effect of Intermittent Delivery of Fluoride to Solution on Root Hard-tissue De- and Remineralization Measured by 125I Absorptiometry Journal of Dental Research, December 1, 1993; 72(12): 1593 - 1598. [PDF]

				O. Fejerskov, V. Baelum, and E.S. Ostergaard Root Caries in Scandinavia in the 1980's and Future Trends to be Expected in Dental Caries Experience in Adults Advances in Dental Research, July 1, 1993; 7(1): 4 - 14. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P.C. Lammers, J.M.P.M. Borggreven, and F.C.M. Driessens Acid-susceptibility of Lesions in Bovine Enamel after Remineralization at Different pH Values and in the Presence of Different Fluoride Concentrations Journal of Dental Research, December 1, 1991; 70(12): 1486 - 1490. [PDF]

				J.M. ten Cate and J.D.B. Featherstone Mechanistic Aspects of the Interactions Between Fluoride and Dental Enamel Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine, January 1, 1991; 2(3): 283 - 296. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Nyvad and O. Fejerskov An Ultrastructural Study of Bacterial Invasion and Tissue Breakdown in Human Experimental Root-surface Caries Journal of Dental Research, May 1, 1990; 69(5): 1118 - 1125. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P.M.M. Hoppenbrouwers and F.C.M. Driessens The Effect of Lactic and Acetic Acid on the Formation of Artificial Caries Lesions Journal of Dental Research, December 1, 1988; 67(12): 1466 - 1467. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P.M.M. Hoppenbrouwers, E. Groenendijk, N. Ramlochan Tewarie, and F.C.M. Driessens Improvement of the Caries Resistance of Human Dental Roots by a Two-step Conversion of the Root Mineral into Fluoridated Hydroxylapatite Journal of Dental Research, October 1, 1988; 67(10): 1254 - 1256. [Abstract] [PDF]