Changes in mineral distribution and concentration during enamel development in the deciduous human maxillary and...

The present study describes the detailed changes in mineral concentration in developing human enamel across the different stages of development from early formation to maturation in the human maxillary and mandibular deciduous teeth. The results indicate a stage in the development of enamel in each of the deciduous human teeth in which the tissue becomes porous due to a loss of matrix protein which is subsequently replaced by mineral during the maturation process with the enamel finally becoming fully mineralized and hard. The time of appearance of this porous stage varies in the different deciduous teeth. The importance of this stage with regards to enamel susceptibility to metabolic influences is discussed.