Relationship Between in vivo Enamel Solubility and Increased DMFT Over Three Years

Abstract

We compared the in vivo enamel solubility and the increase in DMFT (ΔDMFT) for three years in dental students, and examined. The usefulness of the in vivo enamel solubility test as a screening method for dental caries increment. The following results were obtained.
1) In vivo enamel solubility of the lower first molar was significantly higher than that of the upper central incisor. The value after surface polishing was higher than that of the surface before polishing.
2) A relationship was found between the upper central incisor and the lower first molar in the value of in vivo enamel solubility.
3) We found that the majority of students were at the no increment (ΔDMFT=0) point. As the number of DMFT increased, the number of students decreased.
4) There was no clear relationship between ΔDMFT and in vivo enamel solubility. However, it was the most useful way to predict caries increment at the point of -1SD from the average enamel solubility value in general. As a screening measure the lower first molar was better than the upper central incisor, particularly without polishing.