Alkali solubility of calcium fluoride pre-exposed to inorganic orthophosphate at pH 6.8

The dissolution behavior in 1 M KOH solution of calcium fluoride which had been pre-exposed to inorganic orthophosphate at pH 6.8 was investigated. Chemically pure calcium fluoride (50 mg) was incubated in 5 ml of 2 mmol/l sodium phosphate buffer, pH 6.8, for 24 h or 120 h and subsequently incubated in 5 ml 1 M KOH for 24h. Control samples were incubated in distilled water before KOH exposure. Pre-treatment with phosphate caused a significantly reduced dissolution rate of calcium fluoride in alkali. Longer exposure to phosphate resulted in further reduction of the dissolution rate in alkali. Calcium fluoride formed on teeth in vitro and in vivo will always be exposed to phosphate. The alkali method thus has limitations because calcium fluoride that has been exposed to phosphate will be underestimated.