The acid etching technique is a widely accepted produdure in the field of caries prevention, restorative dentistry and orthodontics to obtain a better bonding of resin to the surface of the enamel. However acid etching may damage chemically the surface structure of sound enamel. Consequently the etched enamel surface left or unprotected with resin may become the focus of caries initiation.
Some investigators have devoted to the remineralization of acid etched enamel. However, there are some controvesial view points concerning their results.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate chemically and morphologically the remineralization of the acid etched enamel. Enamel surfaces were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), microradiography and analysed by an electron probe microanalyser (EPMA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (ESCA)and infrared internal reflection spectroscopy (IRS).
The experiments were carried out as follows:
1) Immersion in the calcifying solutions. (in vitro)The human tooth enamel was etched with 35% phosphoric acid for 60secouds and immersed in the calcifying solutions for 1,3,5,7,10,20, and 28days at 37°C. The calcifying solutions used in the study contained 1.5 mMCaCl
2,0.9 mM-NaH
2.PO4⋅H
2O and 150 mM-NaCl and at pH
7 and the flow rate was 52 m//hr.
2) Placement in the oral environment. (in vivo)The human tooth enamel was etched under similar conditions as mentioned above and this was attached to the acrylic space maintainer and placed in the oral environment of two girls (A: 8years, B: 7years). The time of placement were as follows: A was 7,30,32, and 45days and B was 13,14,30, and 32days.
The results were as follows:
1) Immersion in the calcifying solutions. (in vitro)The acid etched enamel surface showed a smooth appearance by SEM observation after 10days immersion in the calcifying solutions and the microradiographic observation disclosed similar findings as compared with nonetched enamel. Line analysis of Cakα and Pkα by EPMA and the infrared analysis of the specimen obtained from the surface layer did not show any remarkable differences as compared with the non-etched enamel. After 28days, the binding energy of Ca and P evaluated with the aid of ESCA shifted to the high energy site when compared with non-etched enamel. However the depth of the enamel dissolution (about 20μm) was not restored even after 28 days.
2) Placement in the oral environment. (in vivo)he etched enamel specimens showed a smooth and uniform structure by SEM observation and were similar to these of the non-etched enamel. However the microradiographic findings indicated a lower radio density as compared with sound enamel and the depth of the enamel dissolution (about 20μm)was not restored even after 45days. From these findings it was discovered that full remineralization of the etched enamel placed in the oral environment would not occur.
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