Enamel solubility rate measurements in vivo on naval recruits

Enamel solubility rates were determined in vivo to depths of 1 to 2 mum in the teeth from two samples of naval recruits that had been grouped, respectively, according to DMFT scores and visual indexes of oral hygiene status. No positive correlation between enamel solubility rates and DMFT scores were observed; rather there was a tendency for caries-resistant participants to have a highest apparent enamel solubility rates, even though mean differences among the DMFT groups were not generally significant. Intra-subject measurements on 12 teeth per participant for eight of the recruits showed, on the average, only about one half the variability founl incisors for more than 70 of the recruits. The least variability was found for measurements on paired maxillary central incisors. It was concluded that factors such as tooth morphology and, in particular, tooth-surface films could considerably affect enamel solubility rates measured in vivo.