Determination of Plaque pH Changes within the Trough of an in situ Appliance Used to Study Mineral Changes in Early Carious Lesions

Abstract

Plaque pH was measured using a glass combination pH microelectrode of plaque deposits lining the trough of an intra-oral appliance which contained single sections of human teeth with artificial enamel lesions. Plaque exposure to a 10% sucrose solution produced significantly lower plaque pH levels than a solution of sorbitol gum extract. The subsequent flow of saliva over the plaque/pH electrode interface resulted in a significant and rapid increase in pH. Repeat experiments, using deionised water instead of saliva, demonstrated no increase in pH at the plaque/electrode interface. This system may provide a convenient method of producing plaque suitable for repeated pH analysis in intimate association with artificial enamel lesions. This may permit further study of the relationship between plaque acidogenicity, salivary buffering capacity and mineral change within the incipient enamel lesion.

First molar eruption related to plaque acidogenicity in children of different socio-economic status

“…Controversy still exists in this regard, but it has been shown that acids released from plaque affect every tooth surface [7]. This fact may support the use of different surfaces for plaque collection [1,2,4,7,39 Á/ 41], although lingual surfaces provide an excellent site for plaque accumulation [37].…”

Developments in dental plaque pH modelling

“…Lively debate has taken place within the dental caries research community over several decades as to how plaque pH data should be most meaningfully reported. 9,38,67,72,75,129,134 One should be aware that plaque pH data can be presented in a series of ways (such as 'minimum pH', 'pH area' and 'cH area'), which can, put slightly differing emphases of a given set of plaque pH data. This question has been recently re-visited through the use of useful computer programmes in order to clarify this issue.…”