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Vol. 69, No. 11		  
ISSN: 1488-2159		  
December 2003

 

What Is the Critical pH and Why Does a Tooth Dissolve in Acid?

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• Colin Dawes, BSc, BDS, PhD •

A b s t r a c t

This paper discusses the concept of critical pH for dissolution of enamel in oral fluids. The critical pH does not have a fixed value but rather is inversely proportional to the calcium and phosphate concentrations in the solution. The paper also discusses why teeth dissolve in acid, why remineralization of white-spot caries lesions is possible and why remineralization of teeth eroded by acid is not possible.

 

MeSH Key Words: dental enamel solubility; hydrogen-ion concentration; tooth remineralization
 
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