Abstract:Much attention has been given to the growth mechanism of enamel mineral by which the unique features (i.e., morphology, size and alignment) of enamel crystallites in mammals are achieved. In this paper, we report our experimental and theoretical approaches to a long-debated and unsettled issue, i.e., the involvement and role of an acidic precursor in enamel mineralization.Analysis of nucleation events, which octacalcium phosphate (OCP) in precipitation reactions. We also developed a new crystal growth model using miniaturized columns in tandem, in which OCP itself was proved to be equally competent, in comparison with hydroxyapatite (HA), as a template for crystal precipitation and as an adsorbent for interaction with enamel proteins. Simulation of the precipitation process taking place in situ with calcium transport (its increment) into enamel fluid also allowed us to predict that OCP is more kinetically favorable than HA, if