Acid-susceptibility of lesions in bovine enamel after remineralization at different pH values and in the presence of different fluoride concentrations

Abstract

Artificial caries lesions were created in sound bovine enamel slices demineralized at pH 5.0. The lesions were then remineralized at either pH 5.5 or pH 6.8 in solutions containing either 1.5, 15, or 50 mumol/L fluoride. The remineralized slices were then demineralized at pH 5.0 for investigation of acid-susceptibility by means of quantitative microradiography. The results indicated that fluoride, incorporated during the preceding remineralization, had a retarding effect on the demineralization after remineralization, and that for the lowest concentration of fluoride in the remineralizing solution, the inhibitory influence of fluoride depended on the pH of the remineralization solutions used.