The chemistry of the principal mineral component of tooth tissue, hydroxyapatite, has been recognized for many years to be fundamental to the understanding of a number of issues in dentistry, in particular dental cari...The chemistry of the principal mineral component of tooth tissue, hydroxyapatite, has been recognized for many years to be fundamental to the understanding of a number of issues in dentistry, in particular dental caries, calculus formation, and remineralization. In addition, aspects of odontogenesis, saliva physiology (including palliative treatments for xerostomia), etching and bonding for restorations, laboratory testing of materials for intra- oral use, and caries prevention are intimately dependent on such chemistry. The interest is also much broader since hydroxyapatite is also the principal mineral of bone, and calcium phosphates in general are significant in the context of pathological calcifications. Given this importance, and the volume of the literature on these topics, it is surprising that our understanding is demonstrably deficient in several respects, although one or two recent reports have made important observations. Reasons for this state of affairs may be identified in a small number of critical areas.展开更多
文摘The chemistry of the principal mineral component of tooth tissue, hydroxyapatite, has been recognized for many years to be fundamental to the understanding of a number of issues in dentistry, in particular dental caries, calculus formation, and remineralization. In addition, aspects of odontogenesis, saliva physiology (including palliative treatments for xerostomia), etching and bonding for restorations, laboratory testing of materials for intra- oral use, and caries prevention are intimately dependent on such chemistry. The interest is also much broader since hydroxyapatite is also the principal mineral of bone, and calcium phosphates in general are significant in the context of pathological calcifications. Given this importance, and the volume of the literature on these topics, it is surprising that our understanding is demonstrably deficient in several respects, although one or two recent reports have made important observations. Reasons for this state of affairs may be identified in a small number of critical areas.
