The aim of the present investigation was to study the influence of complexing agents on the release of calcium from enamel surfaces under neutral pH conditions. Standardized enamel windows (Ø 4 mm) were prepared from human premolars and exposed to 25 ml batches of different sodium lactate solutions (0, 0.31, 0.62, 1.25, 2.5, 5 and 10%, pH 7.2) each solution containing 8 windows. From each batch 2-ml samples were taken after 1, 2, 4, 8, 16 and 32. The samples were analysed for Ca with the aid of atomic absorption spectroscopy. The Ca concentration in the solutions was found to increase significantly with the length of exposure time and with increasing sodium lactate concentration. The findings demonstrate a strong demineralizing effect of neutral solutions of sodium lactate which might be explained by the capacity to complex calcium; the kinetics of dissolution suggest a direct removal of calcium from apatite crystals.
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