[Proteolytic phenomenon in enamel caries]

The proteolytic phenomenon in enamel caries has been investigated from three directions.Three kinds of proteolytic enzymes,papain,trypsin and collagenase have been used for treating enamel both in vitro and in vivo to observe their effect on the development of artificial enamel caries and demineralization of upper central incisors of thirty young persons.The results showed that the depth of the artificial caries was not increased after enzyme treatment.The calcium content of the demineralizing solution is also not increased after enzyme treatment.when the enamel powder of human beings was treated at first by natural plaque fluid and then by demineralizing liquid,no difference was observed between the data of experimental and control groups.Therefore,the results of this study does not support Gottleib's proteolytid theory of caries,especially in case of enamel ones.