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Formation of brushite, monetite and whitlockite during equilibration of human enamel with acid solutions at 37°C

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 14:19 authored by Shellis, RP, Heywood, BR, Wahab, FK
The residues of 5 samples of powdered human enamel, each subjected to 5 sequential equilibrations at 37°C with either 17 or 4 mmol/1 phosphoric acid, were examined microscopically. With 17 mmol/1 acid, both brushite and monetite were found after 1 equilibration but, after further equilibrations, brushite was no longer present and the abundance of monetite crystals increased. Formation of monetite probably contributed to the lower metastability of this system compared to similar low-pH systems at 25 °C, where monetite does not form. Neither brushite nor monetite were present after equilibration with 4 mmol/1 acid. Whitlockite was identified by transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction in all residues. In the 4 mmol/1 systems, the ionic activity product (IMwH) for magnesium whitlockite, Ca9Mg(HPO4)(PO4)6, became constant after 1-3 equilibrations, at a mean value of 3.6 (±0.51 SE)·10-105, which may reflect saturation with respect to this solid. For the 17 mmol/1 systems, higher values of IMWH, and supersaturation with respect to monetite, were interpreted as evidence for persistent metastability due to slow crystal growth of whitlockite and monetite. It is concluded that neither brushite nor monetite are likely to form within carious lesions, but the results are consistent with the known association of whitlockite with caries.

History

Publication title

Caries Research

Volume

31

Pagination

71-77

ISSN

0008-6568

Publisher

Karger

Place of publication

Allschwilerstrasse 10, Basel, Switzerland, Ch-4009

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences

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