Erosive loss of tooth substance is dependent on enamel surface structure and presence of pellicle – An in vitro study

Abstract

OBJECTIVE Aim of this in vitro study was to investigate erosive tooth loss in dependence of the enamel surface structure and presence of an acquired pellicle. METHODS Enamel specimens from 19 bovine incisors (4 specimens/incisor) were allocated to four experimental groups (n = 19). The surfaces of half of the specimens were polished (two groups), while the other half was left native (two groups). Specimens of one polished and one native group were placed in pooled human saliva (30 min) for the formation of an acquired pellicle. Thereafter, all specimens were demineralized by superfusion with hydrochloric acid (17 min, pH 2.3) with collection of the superfluent. Erosive substance loss was determined by measuring the dissolved calcium content using a colorimetric assay with Arsenazo III reagent. Differences in erosive substance loss were statistically analyzed with respect to enamel surface and pellicle. A linear mixed effects model was fitted to the data and pairwise differences between groups were evaluated (significance level = 0.05). RESULTS Enamel surface structure (p < 0.001) and presence of pellicle (p = 0.01) had a significant effect on erosive substance loss. Polished surfaces with pellicle showed the lowest cumulative calcium release [nmol Ca/mm 2 ] (means ± standard deviation: 48+/-5), followed by polished specimens without (51+/-9) and native specimens with pellicle (54+/-10). No significant differences were found between these groups. Highest cumulative calcium release was found for native specimens without pellicle (61+/-9; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Both enamel surface structure and the acquired pellicle are important determinants of the susceptibility to erosive tooth loss.

Pathophysiology of Demineralization, Part I: Attrition, Erosion, Abfraction, and Noncarious Cervical Lesions

“…As teeth erupt, saliva forms a thin coating of acquired pellicle on enamel surfaces. Pellicle is a protein layer rendering enamel less susceptible to demineralization [96][97][98]; however, it also serves as the base for plaque which may contribute to both caries and acidic erosion in a septic environment [98]. The closest parallel in bone physiology for dental pellicle is the thin layer of unmineralized osteoid which protects new bone from surface resorption.…”

“…Bone achieves demineralization of fully mineralized tissue with osteocytic osteolysis [75] or subsurface channeling via osteoclasts [15]. Enamel mineral can turnover via percolation through intercrystalline micropores [97,98] or subsurface demineralization and remineralization [19,33]. Internal demineralization contributes to porosity of bone [20,21] and enamel [80][81][82][101][102][103].…”

<i>In vitro</i> remineralization of enamel with a solution containing casein and fluoride

“…Saliva and the dental pellicle have been shown to alter the caries process [3][4][5] . The protein-containing layer of the dental pellicle is formed within a few minutes on the surface of a tooth and functions as an anti-erosive barrier and buffer zone 3) .…”

“…Saliva and the dental pellicle have been shown to alter the caries process [3][4][5] . The protein-containing layer of the dental pellicle is formed within a few minutes on the surface of a tooth and functions as an anti-erosive barrier and buffer zone 3) . Pellicle-precursor proteins, namely, statherins, proline-rich proteins (PRPs), and histatins, are important salivary phosphoproteins in mineral regulation processes [6][7][8] .…”

Three-Dimensional Surface Texture Analysis of Fluoride’s Effect on Enamel Erosion

“…Tooth erosion, if not managed through effective interventions, may result in substantial loss of dental tissue [ 2 ]. The damage to enamel can be either irreversible (i.e., total wiping out of dental hard tissue material) or in the form of partial tissue demineralization and softening [ 3 ], so both should be addressed in order to define the correct intervention.…”