Department of Conservative Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Yonsei University, Korea.
Copyright © 2007 Korean Academy of Conservative Dentistry
In microradiograghic analysis, as the pH increased, the amount of remineralization in decalcified dentin tended to increase significantly. As the pH decreaced, deeper decalcification, however, occurred along with remineralization. The group of pH 5.5 had a tendency to be remineralized without demineralization (p < 0.05).
In SEM view, the remineralization in dentine caries occurred from the hydroxyapatite crystal surface surrounding the mesh of organic matrix, and eventually filled up the demineralized area.
5 days after remineralization, hydroxyapatite crystal grew bigger with deposition of inorganic substance in pH 4.3 and 5.0 group, and the crystal in the remineralized area appeared to return to normal. After 10 days, the crystals in group of pH 4.3 and 5.0, which grew bigger after 5 days of remineralization, turned back to their normal size, but in group of pH 5.5, some crystals were found to double their size.
*: p < 0.05
*: p < 0.05