The constant composition crystallization technique has been used in conjunction with surface hardness and radiographic methods to investigate kinetic and physical aspects of remineralization of artificial carious lesions in bovine enamel in vitro. The kinetic data indicate that the remineralization of surface-softened enamel occurs more rapidly than that in subsurface demineralized white spots. The remineralization of all types of artificial lesions is associated with considerable surface rehardening. For shallow lesions, the relationship between surface hardening and remineralization is linear, however, this correlation breaks down in more advanced lesions. Importantly, the maximum rehardening of carious lesions appears to be related to their initial degree of acid demineralization.
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