The aim of this in vitro study was to determine the influence of remineralisation time on rehardening of surface–softened enamel after citric acid erosion. Seven groups of 13 samples of human enamel were eroded in 0.3% citric acid at pH 3.2 for 2 h followed by profilometric measurements. Individual groups of specimens were placed in artificial saliva for 1, 2, 4, 6, 9 or 24 h. A control group was placed in isotonic saline for 24 h. After new profilometric measurements samples were ultrasonicated stepwise up to 480 s with profilometric measurements performed at 5, 30, 120, 240 and 480 s to measure the depth of surface softening. The control group had a softened surface layer of mean thickness 2.9 µm. Mineral deposition was seen at all remineralisation times by scanning electron microscopy. Exposure to artificial saliva for 1, 2 or 4 h produced a partial rehardening of the softened enamel; the additional surface losses produced by ultrasonication were lower and time delayed compared to the control group. Specimens remineralised for 6, 9 and 24 h showed little evidence of surface loss after ultrasonication. The data suggest that a complete rehardening of the softened enamel in vitro is reached after a remineralisation time of 6 h. These data are of clinical relevance to tooth wear. However, there is a need for studies in situ of enamel demineralisation and remineralisation.

Keywords:
Artificial saliva, Citric acid, Dental erosion, Enamel, Remineralisation, Ultrasonication
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2001
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