Protective properties of salivary pellicles from two different intraoral sites on enamel erosion

The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effect and ultrastructure of salivary pellicles formed in vivo near the orifices of the ducts of parotid and submandibular/sublingual salivary glands. Pellicles were formed by exposing bovine enamel slabs to the oral environment at the buccal aspect of the upper first molars and at the lingual aspect of the lower incisors in 3 subjects over periods of 24 h. Enamel specimens with and without 24-hour pellicles were immersed in citric acid (0.1 and 1%) for periods ranging from 30 s to 5 min, and processed for measurement of surface microhardness (SMH) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In comparison to uncovered enamel specimen significantly less decrease in SMH due to acid exposure was observed in pellicle-coated enamel specimens. Pellicles formed at the buccal aspect of the upper molars were less effective in protecting the enamel against acid-induced softening as compared to pellicles formed at the lingual aspect of the lower incisors only after 5 min exposure in 1% citric acid. TEM analysis showed that pellicle layers were dissolved continuously due to acid exposure. However, even after 5 min exposure to 1% citric acid, a residual pellicle layer could be detected on the enamel surface. In conclusion, site-dependent differences of buccally and lingually in vivo formed 24-hour pellicles have minor importance concerning the pellicle-induced protection of the enamel surface against erosive changes.