The Study of the Electrochemical Deterioration of Human Teeth in Oral Cavity and the Role of Saliva

Nathan Meka^{1, 2,} , Assefa Sergawie¹ and Khalid Siraj²

¹Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

²Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia

Cite this paper:
Nathan Meka, Assefa Sergawie and Khalid Siraj. The Study of the Electrochemical Deterioration of Human Teeth in Oral Cavity and the Role of Saliva. Journal of Materials Physics and Chemistry. 2013; 1(3):45-50. doi: 10.12691/jmpc-1-3-4

Abstract

This work is carried out to confirm the existence of the surface potentials in extracted tooth by electrochemical method. The surface potentials were measured between enamel crown’s buccal side and tooth root. Surface potentials examined in all the teeth in the presence of KCl. It is found that potential increased with increasing KCl concentration and after acid corroded. The results suggest that potentials can be affected by the surrounding electrolytes and establish an electrical double layer. It is also found that on passing electric current through enamel causes degradation.

Keywords:
surface potential electrochemistry corrosion enamel fluoride ion

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Figures

References:

[1]	Waters, N.E.: The Selectivity of Human Dental Enamel to Ionic Transport, Arch Oral Biol, 16, 1971, pp. 305-322.
[2]	Bockis J O’M and Dražice DM, : Structure of electric double layer, In Electro chemistry, translated by Xia Xi, People’s educational publishing house, Beijing, P.R.China, 1980, pp. 27-28.
[3]	Takaesu, Y.; Moreno, E.C.; and Brudevold, F.: EMF Measurement across Hydroxyapatite Membranes, Arch Oral Biol, 18, 1973, pp. 717-728.
[4]	Bonefield W., Grynpas M.D., Tully A.E., Bowman J. and Abram J.: Hydroxyapatite reinforced polyethylene: a mechanically compatible implant material for bone replacement, biomaterials, 2, 1981, p.185.
[5]	Leach, S.A.: Electrophoresis of Synthetic Hydroxyapatite, Arch Oral Biol., 3, 1960, pp. 48-56.
[6]	Hay, D.I.: The Adsorption of Salivary Proteins by Hydroxyapatite and Enamel, Arch Oral Biol, 12, 1967, pp. 937-946.
[7]	Birkland JM.: The effect of pH on the interaction of fluoride and salivary ions, Caries. Res.7, 1973, p. 11.
[8]	Loesche WJ: Role of Streptococcus mutans in human dental decay. Bacteriological reviews,; 50, 1986, pp. 353-380.
[9]	Okada M, Soda Y, Hayashi F et al: Longitudinal studies on dental caries incidence associated with Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus in pre-school children. J. Med Microbiol, 54, 2005, pp. 661-665.
[10]	Russell MW, Lehner T: Characterization of antigens extracted from cells and culture fluids of Streptococcus mutans serotype C. Arch Oral Biol, 23, 1978, pp. 7-15.
[11]	Bergmann H, Koparal S: The formation of chlorine dioxide in the electrochemical treatment of drinking water for disinfection. Electrochim Acta 50: 2005, 5218-5228.
[12]	Klein H., and Amberson, W.R.: A Physico-Chemical Study of the Structure of Dental Enamel, J. Dent Res, 9, 1929, P. 667.
[13]	Klein H., Amberson WH: A physical-chemical study of the structure of dental enamel, J. Dent. Res, 12, 1932, p. 95.
[14]	Chick, A.O., and Waters, N.E.: Membrane Potential in Human Teeth: The Effect of Some Common Organic Anions, Arch Oral Biol, 10, 1965 pp. 1-7.
[15]	Kambara, M.: Study on the Ion-Permeability of Human Dental Enamel with Special Reference to an Electro-Chemical Approach, J Osaka Odont Soc., 38, 1975, pp. 551-573.
[16]	Weyl, W.A.; Gromer, R.; and Smith, C.S: Structure and Properties of the Solids Surface, National Research Council Committee on Solids, Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1953, p 147.
[17]	Masaki K., Teruyoshi A., Mamoru K., and Koji K: An Electrochemical Study on the Human Dental Enamel with Special Reference to Isoelectric Point, J. dent res, 57, 1978 p. 306.
[18]	Levinkind M., Vandernoot' T.J., and Elliott J.C. Electrochemical Impedance Characterization of Human and Bovine Enamel. J Dent Res. 1990, 69(12), 1806-1811.
[19]	Greef, R.; Peat, R.; Peter, L.M.; Pletcher, D.; and Robinson, J.: Instrumental Methods in Electrochemistry, T.J. Kemp, Ed., and Chichester: John Wiley & Sons Ltd., 1985, pp. 251-282.
[20]	Vogel GL., Mao Y, Carey CM, and Chow LC: Changes in the permselectivity of human teeth during caries attack, J. Dent .Res, 76, 1997, p. 673.
[21]	N. Tung and Brown: Characterization and modification of electrochemical properties of teeth, J. Dent. Re, 62, 1985, p. 60.