The difference in the dissolution of calcium was compared between extracted erupted first premolars (30 teeth) and unerupted first premolars (30 teeth). They were coated with parafin wax and two windows, 3mm in diameter, were made on the buccomesial and bucco-distal surface. One window was treated with fluoride and the other was used as a control. They were examined by biopsy 5 times during 30, 60, or 120 seconds using filter paper discs containing 2μl of 0.1M HCIO
4.
The dissolution of calcium from erupted teeth gradully increased with the passage of time whereas the dissolution from unerupted teeth was shown to reach a plateau after a few seconds.
The influence of fluoride treatment was more significant in unerupted teeth than in erupted teeth.
When the enamel surface was observed with SEM, a generally flat appearance was observed on erupted teeth. In contrast, a regularly arranged crater appearance was observed on unerupted teeth.
The observation that the reactivity of the enamel surface was higher in unerpted teeth than in erupted teeth suggests the existance of post-eruptive change (maturation) of the enamel surface of erupted teeth.
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