• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.277-290
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• 1993

Dental caries is considered to be caused by demineralization by organic acid produced by microorganism. But the formation of subsurface lesion in initial caries make it diffcult to explain by simple demineralization. This study is carried out on the basis of thermodynamic concept proposed by Margolis and Moreno. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of acid concentration and pH of lactate buffer system on the artificial caries lesion progress. 160 teeth without any crack, defect or opaque enamel were used and coated with nail varnish except the window ($2{\times}3$ mm). Under the constant degree of saturation(D.S.). The teeth were divided into 8 groups according to acid concentration(10mM, 25mM, 50mM, 100mM) and pH(4.3, 5.0, 6.0). Each group was immersed in buffer solution for 3, 6, 9, 18 days under controlled temperature($25^{\circ}C$). After cutting through the window and grinding, the specimens, 100-150 um in thickness, were imbibed in water or air and examined using polarilizing microscope. The depth of the surface and subsurface surface lesion were measured. 1. In the constant pH and D. S. value, the subsurface lesion progresses more rapidly as the concentration of lactic acid increases. (0.01, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1) 2. In the constant acid concentration and DS value, the subsurface lesion progresses more slowly as the pH increases. (4.3, 5.0, 5.5, 6.0) 3. The width of surface lesion seems to be constant independant of pH and acid concentration.