PMC

SEMs of enamel before and after demineralization. (a,b) primary; (c,d) permanent. Arrows show that demineralization was initiated at the core/wall interfaces of rods and developed anisotropically along the c-axis.

SEMs of dissolving enamel cores, showing (a) the erosion of the walls of primary tooth enamel and (b) their retention for permanent tooth enamel after long-term dissolution. Arrow shows a fractured primary enamel wall.

SEM of nanosized crystallites. (a) Nanosized crystallites attached to primary enamel surface after initial dissolution. (b) Enlargement of the rectangular area in (a). (c) Nanosized crystallites collected from bulk solution by filtration during the initial linear stage of dissolution (as shown in ).

Nanosized crystallites at the plateaux stages of dissolution of (a) primary and (b) permanent enamel collected by filtration from the bulk solution. CC curves of (c) primary and (d) permanent tooth enamel dissolution. The rates decreased virtually to zero at the end of dissolution reactions. (e) Comparison of dissolution rates of primary and permanent tooth enamel during the initial linear stages of dissolution.