Journal of Dentistry
Volume 38, Issue 1 , Pages 72-81, January 2010

Morphological and chemical characterization of tooth enamel exposed to alkaline agents

  • F. Taube

      Affiliations

    • Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author at: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Box 414, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden. Tel.: +46 31 786 62 92; fax: +46 31 40 97 28.
    • ,
  • R. Ylmén

      Affiliations

    • Department of Inorganic Environmental Chemistry, Chalmers, Gothenburg, Sweden
    • ,
  • A. Shchukarev

      Affiliations

    • Department of Chemistry, Environmental and Biogeochemistry, Umea University, Umea, Sweden
    • ,
  • S. Nietzsche

      Affiliations

    • Centre of Electron Microscopy, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Germany
    • ,
  • J.G. Norén

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pedodontics, Institute of Odontology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

Received 12 March 2009; received in revised form 11 September 2009; accepted 14 September 2009. published online 24 September 2009.

Abstract 

Objectives

In this study, morphological and chemical changes in teeth enamel exposed to alkaline agents, with or without surfactants, have been investigated. In addition, chemical effects of the organic surface layer, i.e. plaque and pellicle, were also investigated.

Methods

The present study was conducted using several techniques: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Results

From XPS-measurements, it was found that exposure to alkaline solutions resulted in a massive removal of carbon from the tooth surface, and that the addition of surfactants increased the rate under present conditions. Based on the results from the FTIR-analysis, no substitution reactions between phosphate, carbonate and hydroxide ions in the enamel apatite could be detected. From a minor SEM-analysis, degradation and loss of substance of the enamel surface was found for the exposed samples. From XRD-analysis, no changes in crystallinity of the enamel apatite could be found between the samples.

Conclusions

The findings in this study show that exposure to alkaline solutions results in a degradation of enamel surfaces very dissimilar from acidic erosion. No significant erosion or chemical substitution of the apatite crystals themselves could be discerned. However, significant loss of organic carbon at the enamel surface was found in all exposed samples. The degradation of the protective organic layer at the enamel surface may profoundly increase the risk for caries and dental erosion from acidic foods and beverages.

Keywords: Enamel, Erosion, Dental, Biofilm, Alkaline, Odontology, XPS, FTIR, SEM, XRD

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PII: S0300-5712(09)00223-1

doi:10.1016/j.jdent.2009.09.006

Journal of Dentistry
Volume 38, Issue 1 , Pages 72-81, January 2010

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