Diffusion in mammalian tooth enamel in relation to the caries process

Abstract

For the rate of demineralization of enamel during caries, three physicochemical processes are of importance: the diffusion into and out of the enamel, the dissolution of mineral and the complexation of ions. The interpretation of diffusion experiments in conjunction with artificial caries experiments and computer simulations is described. In the caries process, relevant diffusion coefficients of small ions and molecules are of the order of magnitude 10(-9)--10(-7) cm2 s-1.