A new in situ model to study erosive enamel wear, a clinical pilot study

To develop an in situ model for erosive wear research which allows for more clinically relevant exposure parameters than other in situ models and to show tooth site-specific erosive wear effect of an acid challenge of orange juice on enamel.

This pilot study included 6 edentulous volunteers wearing full dentures with 13 embedded enamel samples The study consisted of two control runs: habitual diet only for 30days, and two experimental runs: habitual diet plus 125ml orange juice four times per day (consumed over 4m). In the first experimental run subjects were instructed to take the drink in their mouth and promptly swallow it. In the second experimental run subjects take the drink in their mouth and hold each 25ml for 30s, moving it around their mouth before swallowing. Sample enamel surface loss was measured using non-contact surface profilometry.

Drinking of orange juice additional to the habitual diet, caused significant but low increased erosive wear at buccal, palatal and lingual specimens. Significantly higher levels of tissue loss were found on all surfaces in the swishing experiment but molars (especially occlusal specimens in mandibular molars), palatal specimens sited in upper anterior teeth and lingual specimens in lower anterior teeth were most affected.

The model showed clinically relevant patterns of erosive tooth wear as seen clinically in erosive wear patients.

The model could have many applications to study clinically erosive wear for specific diets or consumption patterns and to test preventive measures.