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Onset and progression of dental erosion in a mouse model
Julie Marie Haabeth Brox1, Amela Tulek2, Amer Sehic3
1Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. j.m.h.brox@odont.uio.no.
Objective:
Purpose of this research was to examine the onset, progression and wear rates of dental erosion in an established mouse model.
Material And Methods:
Dental erosion in mice was experimentally induced, and the acidic effects of cola drink on their teeth after 2, 4 and 6-weeks were closely analysed by scanning electron microscopy. The tooth height and enamel or dentin loss were established. Results: The dental erosion on the molars showed clear progression from 2 to 6 weeks. By the 2-week mark, a significant portion of enamel was already eroded, revealing the dentin on the lingual cusps. When adjusted for attritional wear, molars exposed to cola for 2 weeks showed a 35% drop in lingual tooth height compared to controls (533 μm vs. 818 μm). At 4 and 6 weeks, the cola-exposed group continued to display decreased lingual tooth heights by 40% (476 μm vs. 799 μm) and 43% (440 μm vs. 767 μm), respectively.
Conclusion:
This study revealed significant acidic effects of cola drink on mouse molars as early as 2 weeks. These findings highlight the challenge of monitoring dental erosion clinically and underscore the importance of early preventive and intervention measures.
