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The electrochemical behaviour of human dental enamel after topical fluoride treatment

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Abstract

The selectivity of enamel caps, and specimens of a synthetic hydroxyapatite powder dispersed within a poly(methylmethacrylate) matrix, to K+ transport in KCl concentration cells has been examined before and after a 24-hour application of 1.0 M KF at its natural pH. The membrane potentials after this treatment were in general higher, the elevation increasing as the concentration gradient was increased. It is concluded that the results are consistent with the hypothesis that enamel acts as an ion-exchange membrane and it is suggested that with KCl solutions the effective fixed negative charge density associated with the surfaces of the hydroxyapatite crystallites along the diffusion pathways may be increased by a topical fluoride treatment and may induce a higher cationic selectivity to the structure.

Résumé

La spécificité de coiffes d'émail et de specimens de poudre synthétique d'hydroxyleapatite, dispersée dans une matrice de poly(methylméthacrylate), vis à vis du transfert de K+ dans des chambres à concentration de KCl, a été étudiée avant et après application pendant 24 heures de 1.0 M KF à pH normal. Les potentiels de membrane après ce traitement sont généralement plus élevés, l'augmentation se faisant avec l'élévation du gradient de concentration. Ces résultats emblent indiquer que l'émail agit comme une membrane échangeuse d'ions. Il semble que la densité des cristaux d'apatite, le long des voies de diffusion, peut être augmentée par un traitement local de fluor et peut induire une spécificité cationique plus élevée.

Zusammenfassung

Die Schmelzschicht eines Zahnes, sowie Proben von synthetischem, in einer Poly(methylmethacrylat)-Matrix verteiltem Hydroxyapatitpulver wurden wie folgt untersucht: ihre Selektivität auf K+-Transport in Meßzellen mittels KCl-Konzentrationsgradienten wurde vor und nach einer 24stündigen Behandlung mit 1,0 M KF bei pH 7,6 geprüft. Die Membranpotentiale waren nach dieser Behandlung im allgemeinen höher; die Erhöhung nahm mit dem Konzentrationsgradient zu. Daraus wird geschlossen, daß die Ergebnisse mit der Hypothese, wonach Schmelz als Ionenaustausch-Membran wirken kann, übereinstimmen und es wird vorgeschlagen, daß mit KCl-Lösungen die wirksame fixierte Ladungsdichte auf den Oberflächen der Hydroxyapatitkriställchen entlang den Diffusionsbahnen durch lokale Fluoridbehandlung erhöht werden kann und dadurch eine höhere Kationenselektivität auf die Struktur ausübt.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Physical Sciences, Royal Dental School, University of London, Leicester Square, W.C.2, London, England

    N. E. Waters

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  1. N. E. Waters
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Waters, N.E. The electrochemical behaviour of human dental enamel after topical fluoride treatment. Calc. Tis Res. 10, 314–322 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02012562

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02012562

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