ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the effect of driving forces similar to those found in dental plaque fluid on the enamel demineralization and ultrastructure of surface layer.Methods The sections of human enamel were exposed to lactic acid solutions with degree of saturation with respect to enamel and degree of saturation with respect to fluoroapatite for 96 h at 25 ℃,using the deionized water as control in the same conditions.Enamel demineralization was monitored using SEM and confocal laser scanning microscopy(CLSM).Results Only was enamel subsurface demineralization detected in solutions with DS_(EN)(0.1-0.3).Enamel mineral loss and micropores of surface layer decreased significantly with increasing DS_(EN) and DS_(FA) values.However,no mineral loss and micropores of surface layer was observed in sections of enamel exposed to solutions with DS_(EN) values of 0.4 and 0.5,which were covered with homogeneous remineralization layer.Conclusion The demineralization driving forces similar to dental plaque fluid under different DS_(EN) and DS_(FA) have significant effects on the surface layer of enamel and the subsurface demineralization process.