Abstract
Controversial results showing that deciduous teeth are more susceptible to erosion than permanent teeth might be related to study designs. We investigated how different conditions (pH: 3.0, 4.0, 5.0; acid agitation: gentle or vigorous; acid exposure times: 1–5 min) affect the susceptibility of both teeth to erosion. Enamel specimens (90 deciduous, 90 permanent) were distributed into groups (n = 15 permanent, n = 15 deciduous) according to acid pH (pH 5, 4 or 3) and agitation (gentle or vigorous) during erosive challenge. Both milder (less incubation time, gentle agitation, and higher pH) and more severe (longer incubation times, vigorous shaking, and lower pH) conditions were used. Demineralization was measured by relative surface microhardness (rSMH) and calcium released to the acid. Demineralization increased gradually for both teeth with increasing incubation time, agitation (gentle or vigorous), and with decreasing acid pH. The differences between deciduous and permanent teeth depended on the protocol design and assessment method. Under milder conditions, demineralization was better detectable with rSMH. Under more severe conditions, differences were more perceptible with calcium analyses. Differences exist in the susceptibility to erosion between deciduous and permanent teeth, but they are only distinguishable when the appropriate assessment method is used for the specific erosive condition.
Highlights
Controversial results showing that deciduous teeth are more susceptible to erosion than permanent teeth might be related to study designs
Several factors can influence the rate of tooth demineralization during dental erosion, including those related to nutrition; such as the type, pH and concentration of mineral ions in the acid; or those related to the patient, like reflux, salivary factors, brushing, or behaviour, among many o thers[1,2]
This was demonstrated by Schlueter et al.[4], who showed that one protocol design cannot be directly compared to another, and that the different models will lead to different outcomes
Summary
Controversial results showing that deciduous teeth are more susceptible to erosion than permanent teeth might be related to study designs. We investigated how different conditions (pH: 3.0, 4.0, 5.0; acid agitation: gentle or vigorous; acid exposure times: 1–5 min) affect the susceptibility of both teeth to erosion. Since protocol design influences tooth demineralization[4], it is highly possible that the discrepancies are due to the different designs and demineralization procedures In this sense, the present study used different methods of assessment (surface microhardness or calcium analysis), different pH (3, 4, or 5), agitations (gentle or vigorous), and exposure times to the acid (range between 1 and 5 min), to create different erosive conditions (from mild to more severe conditions). The aim of this study was to investigate how these different conditions (protocol designs) affect the demineralization of deciduous and permanent teeth, observing if there are differences in their susceptibility to dental erosion
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