Chemical compositions and mierosturcture of mature human tooth enamel were investigated by XRD , FTIR and SEM to further understand the characteristics of tooth enamel. In order to obtain apatite crystals chemically...Chemical compositions and mierosturcture of mature human tooth enamel were investigated by XRD , FTIR and SEM to further understand the characteristics of tooth enamel. In order to obtain apatite crystals chemically and structurally similar to those in tooth enamel, biomimetic way was employed. Self-assembled monolyers terminated with-SO3 H groups were used as deposition substrates and 1.5 SBF （ the concentrations of Ca^2＋ and PO4^3- ions 1.5 times ttum those in simulated body fluid ） with and without 5 ppm F^- were used as soaking medium. The XRD and FTIR results showed that both the deposited fluoride-substituted hydroxyapatite （ F-HAp ） crystals in 1.5 SBF with F^- and hydroxyapatite （ HAp ） crystals in 1.5 SBF were carbonate-contain ing, mimicking human tooth enamel in chemical compositions. The SEM photos showed that needle-like F-HAp crystals had large aspect ratios and grew in bundles, which were similar to the crystals in human tooth enomel. The results provide available information on dental restoration.展开更多
Crystallinity refers to the degree of structural order in a solid and has a big influence on hardness, density, transparency and diffusion. Even within materials that are crystalline completely, the degree of structur...Crystallinity refers to the degree of structural order in a solid and has a big influence on hardness, density, transparency and diffusion. Even within materials that are crystalline completely, the degree of structural perfection can vary, reflecting size and elastic strain of many independent crystalline regions (grains or crystallites) of which these materials are composed. In this work it was attempted to reduce the crystallinity of human enamel using a technique of mechanical grinding (MG) with an ultra-compact FRITSCH Mini-Mill PULVERISETTE 23 machine. Variation in the crystallinity through the MG was monitored by X-ray diffraction (XRD) by broadening of the diffraction peak and examined using the Williamson-Hall plot method. Crystallites in human enamel are regularly arranged and oriented (in the [001] direction) perpendicularly to the interface of enameldentin junction. The results showed an anisotropic feature in crystallinity. Reduction of the crystallinity along the a-axis is due to the crystal strain rather than to the refinement of crystal, and vice versa along the c-axis. After 230 h of the MG, the length of crystallites decreased from 100 nm to 30 nm and width from 40 nm to 37 nm approximately.展开更多
The present paper aims to develop an automatical strategy for generating accurate different-scale microstructures of human tooth enamels(HTEs),and to elaborate a numerical scheme for simulating their elastic responses...The present paper aims to develop an automatical strategy for generating accurate different-scale microstructures of human tooth enamels(HTEs),and to elaborate a numerical scheme for simulating their elastic responses.At first,the strong governing formulation of these microstructures is briefly constructed,and the relevant weak formulation is then deduced based on the virtual work theorem.Afterwards,a subdividing approach,which cuts the elements intercepted by the interfaces between distinct phases automatically,is established with the aid of the level set method(LSM),and the discrete counterpart of the governing formula is obtained by combining the weak formulation derived and a discretized model.To be noted,two silent merits are found when the elaborated strategy is applied:(1) the continents constituting the microstructures of different scales can be arbitrarily-shaped and conveniently reproduced;(2) the periodic boundary condition commonly employed can be enforced on the external surfaces of representative unit cells(RUCs) with no difficulty.Besides,a boundary value problem(BVP) involving a simplified HTE nanostructure is designed,analytically solved,and hereafter applied to verify the correctness of the proposed strategy.It is observed that both the displacement and stress predictions by the computational approach are in good agreement with the relevant analytical results irrespective of the material combinations applied.Eventually,discussions are made on the influence of material organizations of both the 2D and 3D HTE microstructures at the ultrastructural and repeated rod levels,and some concluding remarks are drawn.展开更多
Fossil tooth enamel from herbivores is considered one of the best proxies for paleoclimate and paleoelevation reconstructions, due to its low susceptibility to diagenetic alteration. A synthesis of oxygen and carbon i...Fossil tooth enamel from herbivores is considered one of the best proxies for paleoclimate and paleoelevation reconstructions, due to its low susceptibility to diagenetic alteration. A synthesis of oxygen and carbon isotope analyses of modern tooth enamel from herbivores such as Tibetan yaks, asses and antelopes is assessed. The average δ 13C(PDB) value of herbivore tooth enamel in the Lhasa and south Qiangtang terrains is-11.3‰± 1.1‰, whereas in the north Qiangtang and Hoh Xil terrains value is-10.2‰± 1.4‰ consistent with the current C3-dominant ecotype in the Tibetan Plateau. In addition, the average δ18O(PDB) values from tooth enamel show a northward systematic increase from-11.8‰± 3.4‰ in the Gyirong Basin, to-11.1‰± 1.1‰ in the Lhasa and southern Qiangtang terrains, and then to-9.0‰± 1.1‰ in the northern Qiangtang and the Hoh Xil areas, similar to those of the local river water and precipitation variation trends. It is suggested that δ 18O(PDB) values of tooth enamel should not be used directly to evaluate the paleo-elevation of the Tibetan Plateau, because oxygen isotopic composition from tooth enamel is a com-bination of drinking water (precipitation-and river-sourced) and diet (plant-sourced). Moreover, an empirical relationship between oxygen isotope of tooth enamel and modern river water, and as well as elevation is recommended, which can be used in future studies of Tibetan Plateau paleoelevation.展开更多
The oxygen and carbon isotopic ratios in human and animal tooth enamel were measured to reconstruct the subsistence patterns on Zhongba Site between 2400 and 4200 aBP.The results indicate that human consumed chiefly C...The oxygen and carbon isotopic ratios in human and animal tooth enamel were measured to reconstruct the subsistence patterns on Zhongba Site between 2400 and 4200 aBP.The results indicate that human consumed chiefly C4 resources,such as millet,and the C3 plants,such as rice and wheat,constituted only a small fraction of the human diets,normally no more than 15%.There are significant differences in food sources between human and pig,and the percentages of C3 plants in pig diets were higher than those in human diets.But theδ13C values of pig partially overlap those of human,demonstrating some similarities in their food sources.The differences in water sources between human and pig are significant.There are significant differences in food and water sources between cattle and deer. This indicates that the two kinds of mammals subsisted in different niches.But theirδ13C values also partially overlap each other,suggesting some similarities in their food sources.There are both signifi- cant differences in meanδ13C andδ18O values between the omnivores,human and pig and the herbi- vores,cattle and deer,implying significant differences in food and water sources between the two categories.During the period the dietary habits of human had not changed,but the pig breeding strategies had changed,from breeding in house to breeding in confinement,and the proportion of C3 plants in pig food increased with time.The scope of human migration had been considerably large by the Warring States because of the development of productive forces.展开更多
Tooth bleaching agents may weaken the tooth structure. Therefore, it is important to minimize any risks of tooth hard tissue damage caused by bleaching agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of appl...Tooth bleaching agents may weaken the tooth structure. Therefore, it is important to minimize any risks of tooth hard tissue damage caused by bleaching agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of applying 45S5 bioglass （BG） before, after, and during 35% hydrogen peroxide （HP） bleaching on whitening efficacy, physicochemical properties and microstructures of bovine enamel. Seventy-two bovine enamel blocks were prepared and randomly divided into six groups： distilled deionized water （DDW）, BG, HP, BG before HP, BG after HP and BG during HP. Colorimetric and microhardness tests were performed before and after the treatment procedure. Representative specimens from each group were selected for morphology investigation after the final tests. A significant color change was observed in group HP, BG before HP, BG after HP and BG during HP. The microhardness loss was in the following order： group HP〉 BG before HP, BG after HP〉 BG during HP〉DDW, BG. The most obvious morphological alteration of was observed on enamel surfaces in group HP, and a slight morphological alteration was also detected in group BG before HP and BG after HP. Our findings suggest that the combination use of BG and HP could not impede the tooth whitening efficacy. Using BG during HP brought better protective effect than pre/post-bleaching use of BG, as it could more effectively reduce the mineral loss as well as retain the surface integrity of enamel. BG may serve as a promising biomimetic adjunct for bleaching therapy to prevent/restore the enamel damage induced by bleaching agents.展开更多
The tooth enamel development gene, enamelin （ENAM）, showed evidence of positive selection during a genome-wide scan of human and primate DNA for signs of adaptive evolution. The current study examined the hypothesis...The tooth enamel development gene, enamelin （ENAM）, showed evidence of positive selection during a genome-wide scan of human and primate DNA for signs of adaptive evolution. The current study examined the hypothesis that a single-nucleotide polymorphism （SNP） C14625T （rs7671281） in the ENAM gene identified in the genome-wide scan is associated with a change in enamel phenotype. African Americans were selected as the target population, as they have been reported to have a target SNP frequency of approximately 50%, whereas non-Africans are predicted to have a 96% SNP frequency. Digital radiographs and DNA samples from 244 teeth in 133 subjects were analysed, and enamel thickness was assessed in relation to SNP status, controlling for age, sex, tooth number and crown length. Crown length was found to increase with molar number, and females were found to have thicker enamel. Teeth with larger crowns also had thicker enamel, and older subjects had thinner enamel. Linear regression and generalized estimating equations were used to investigate the relationship between enamel thickness of the mandibular molars and ENAM SNP status; enamel in subjects with the derived allele was significantly thinner （P= 0.040） when the results were controlled for sex, age, tooth number and crown length. The derived allele demonstrated a recessive effect on the phenotype. The data indicate that thinner dental enamel is associated with the derived ENAM genotype. This is the first direct evidence of a dental gene implicated in human adaptive evolution as having a phenotypic effect on an oral structure.展开更多
FAM20A has been studied to a very limited extent. Mutations in human FAM20A cause amelogenesis imperfecta, gingival fibromatosis and kidney problems. It would be desirable to systemically analyse the expression of FAM...FAM20A has been studied to a very limited extent. Mutations in human FAM20A cause amelogenesis imperfecta, gingival fibromatosis and kidney problems. It would be desirable to systemically analyse the expression of FAM20A in dental tissues and to assess the pathological changes when this molecule is specifically nullified in individual tissues. Recently, we generated mice with a Fam2OA-floxed allele containing the beta-galactosidase reporter gene. We analysed FAM20A expression in dental tissues using X-Gal staining, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, which showed that the ameloblasts in the mouse mandibular first molar began to express FAM20A at 1 day after birth, and the reduced enamel epithelium in erupting molars expressed a significant level of FAM2OA. By breeding K14-Cre mice with Fam20An^x/fl^x mice, we created K14-Cre;Fam20Af/flox/flox （conditional knock out, cKO） mice, in which Fam20A was inactivated in the epithelium. We analysed the dental tissues of cKO mice using X-ray radiography： histology and immunohistochemistry. The molar enamel matrix in cKO mice was much thinner than normal and was often separated from the dentinoenamel junction. The Fam2OA-deficient ameloblasts were non-polarized and disorganized and were detached from the enamel matrix. The enamel abnormality in cKO mice was consistent with the diagnosis of amelogenesis imperfecta. The levels of enamelin and matrix metalloproteinase 20 were lower in the ameloblasts and enamel of cKO mice than the normal mice, The cKO mice had remarkable delays in the eruption of molars and hyperplasia of the gingival epithelium. The findings emphasize the essential roles of FAM20A in the development of dental and oral tissues.展开更多
This in vitrostudy aims to evaluate the crystal and surface microstructure of dental enamel after cold-light bleaching treatment. Twelve sound human premolars were cross-split into four specimens, namely, mesio-buccal...This in vitrostudy aims to evaluate the crystal and surface microstructure of dental enamel after cold-light bleaching treatment. Twelve sound human premolars were cross-split into four specimens, namely, mesio-buccal （Group LP）, disto-buccal （Group P）, mesio-lingual （Group NP） and disto-lingual （Group L） specimens. These four groups were treated using the standard cold-light bleaching procedure, a bleaching agent, a peroxide-free bleaching agent and cold-light, respectively. Before and after treatment, all specimens were analyzed by high-resolution, micro-area X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Using a spectrometer, tooth color of all specimens was measured before and after treatment. The phase of the enamel crystals was identified as hydroxyapatite and carbonated hydroxyapatite. After treatment, specimens in Groups LP and P showed significantly weaker X-ray diffraction peaks, significant reduction in crystal size and crystallinity, significant increase in L~ but decrease in a＊ and b＊, and obvious alterations in the surface morphology. However, specimens in Groups NP and L did not show any significant changes. The cold-light bleaching treatment leads to demineralization in the enamel surface. The acidic peroxide-containing bleaching agent was the major cause of demineralization, whereas cold-light did not exhibit significant increase or decrease effect on this demineralization.展开更多
文摘Chemical compositions and mierosturcture of mature human tooth enamel were investigated by XRD , FTIR and SEM to further understand the characteristics of tooth enamel. In order to obtain apatite crystals chemically and structurally similar to those in tooth enamel, biomimetic way was employed. Self-assembled monolyers terminated with-SO3 H groups were used as deposition substrates and 1.5 SBF （ the concentrations of Ca^2＋ and PO4^3- ions 1.5 times ttum those in simulated body fluid ） with and without 5 ppm F^- were used as soaking medium. The XRD and FTIR results showed that both the deposited fluoride-substituted hydroxyapatite （ F-HAp ） crystals in 1.5 SBF with F^- and hydroxyapatite （ HAp ） crystals in 1.5 SBF were carbonate-contain ing, mimicking human tooth enamel in chemical compositions. The SEM photos showed that needle-like F-HAp crystals had large aspect ratios and grew in bundles, which were similar to the crystals in human tooth enomel. The results provide available information on dental restoration.
文摘Crystallinity refers to the degree of structural order in a solid and has a big influence on hardness, density, transparency and diffusion. Even within materials that are crystalline completely, the degree of structural perfection can vary, reflecting size and elastic strain of many independent crystalline regions (grains or crystallites) of which these materials are composed. In this work it was attempted to reduce the crystallinity of human enamel using a technique of mechanical grinding (MG) with an ultra-compact FRITSCH Mini-Mill PULVERISETTE 23 machine. Variation in the crystallinity through the MG was monitored by X-ray diffraction (XRD) by broadening of the diffraction peak and examined using the Williamson-Hall plot method. Crystallites in human enamel are regularly arranged and oriented (in the [001] direction) perpendicularly to the interface of enameldentin junction. The results showed an anisotropic feature in crystallinity. Reduction of the crystallinity along the a-axis is due to the crystal strain rather than to the refinement of crystal, and vice versa along the c-axis. After 230 h of the MG, the length of crystallites decreased from 100 nm to 30 nm and width from 40 nm to 37 nm approximately.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.51535010,51305362,11372260&11572266)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant Nos.2682014BR016&2682016CX024)the China Scholar Council
文摘The present paper aims to develop an automatical strategy for generating accurate different-scale microstructures of human tooth enamels(HTEs),and to elaborate a numerical scheme for simulating their elastic responses.At first,the strong governing formulation of these microstructures is briefly constructed,and the relevant weak formulation is then deduced based on the virtual work theorem.Afterwards,a subdividing approach,which cuts the elements intercepted by the interfaces between distinct phases automatically,is established with the aid of the level set method(LSM),and the discrete counterpart of the governing formula is obtained by combining the weak formulation derived and a discretized model.To be noted,two silent merits are found when the elaborated strategy is applied:(1) the continents constituting the microstructures of different scales can be arbitrarily-shaped and conveniently reproduced;(2) the periodic boundary condition commonly employed can be enforced on the external surfaces of representative unit cells(RUCs) with no difficulty.Besides,a boundary value problem(BVP) involving a simplified HTE nanostructure is designed,analytically solved,and hereafter applied to verify the correctness of the proposed strategy.It is observed that both the displacement and stress predictions by the computational approach are in good agreement with the relevant analytical results irrespective of the material combinations applied.Eventually,discussions are made on the influence of material organizations of both the 2D and 3D HTE microstructures at the ultrastructural and repeated rod levels,and some concluding remarks are drawn.
基金supported by the Knowledge Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. KZCX2-YW-Q09-03)National Natural Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholar (Grant No. 40625008)National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2009CB421000)
文摘Fossil tooth enamel from herbivores is considered one of the best proxies for paleoclimate and paleoelevation reconstructions, due to its low susceptibility to diagenetic alteration. A synthesis of oxygen and carbon isotope analyses of modern tooth enamel from herbivores such as Tibetan yaks, asses and antelopes is assessed. The average δ 13C(PDB) value of herbivore tooth enamel in the Lhasa and south Qiangtang terrains is-11.3‰± 1.1‰, whereas in the north Qiangtang and Hoh Xil terrains value is-10.2‰± 1.4‰ consistent with the current C3-dominant ecotype in the Tibetan Plateau. In addition, the average δ18O(PDB) values from tooth enamel show a northward systematic increase from-11.8‰± 3.4‰ in the Gyirong Basin, to-11.1‰± 1.1‰ in the Lhasa and southern Qiangtang terrains, and then to-9.0‰± 1.1‰ in the northern Qiangtang and the Hoh Xil areas, similar to those of the local river water and precipitation variation trends. It is suggested that δ 18O(PDB) values of tooth enamel should not be used directly to evaluate the paleo-elevation of the Tibetan Plateau, because oxygen isotopic composition from tooth enamel is a com-bination of drinking water (precipitation-and river-sourced) and diet (plant-sourced). Moreover, an empirical relationship between oxygen isotope of tooth enamel and modern river water, and as well as elevation is recommended, which can be used in future studies of Tibetan Plateau paleoelevation.
基金Supported by the Key Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.90411015)the University Doctoral Foundation(Grant No.20050284011)+2 种基金the Foundation of Important Basic Research at Nanjing University(Grant No.0209005206)the Open Foundation of the State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology from the Institute of Earth Environment,CAS(Grant No.SKLLQG0503)the Physical Geography of"985"Items and the Test Foundation of Modern Analyses Center of Nanjing University(Grant No.0209001309)
文摘The oxygen and carbon isotopic ratios in human and animal tooth enamel were measured to reconstruct the subsistence patterns on Zhongba Site between 2400 and 4200 aBP.The results indicate that human consumed chiefly C4 resources,such as millet,and the C3 plants,such as rice and wheat,constituted only a small fraction of the human diets,normally no more than 15%.There are significant differences in food sources between human and pig,and the percentages of C3 plants in pig diets were higher than those in human diets.But theδ13C values of pig partially overlap those of human,demonstrating some similarities in their food sources.The differences in water sources between human and pig are significant.There are significant differences in food and water sources between cattle and deer. This indicates that the two kinds of mammals subsisted in different niches.But theirδ13C values also partially overlap each other,suggesting some similarities in their food sources.There are both signifi- cant differences in meanδ13C andδ18O values between the omnivores,human and pig and the herbi- vores,cattle and deer,implying significant differences in food and water sources between the two categories.During the period the dietary habits of human had not changed,but the pig breeding strategies had changed,from breeding in house to breeding in confinement,and the proportion of C3 plants in pig food increased with time.The scope of human migration had been considerably large by the Warring States because of the development of productive forces.
基金supported by the Research Fund from Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province (No. 2009FZ0065)Key Project of the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province (No. 2011SZ0101)+1 种基金Doctoral Fund of Ministry of Education of China (No. 20120181120002)supported by Open Fund of State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Sichuan University
文摘Tooth bleaching agents may weaken the tooth structure. Therefore, it is important to minimize any risks of tooth hard tissue damage caused by bleaching agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of applying 45S5 bioglass （BG） before, after, and during 35% hydrogen peroxide （HP） bleaching on whitening efficacy, physicochemical properties and microstructures of bovine enamel. Seventy-two bovine enamel blocks were prepared and randomly divided into six groups： distilled deionized water （DDW）, BG, HP, BG before HP, BG after HP and BG during HP. Colorimetric and microhardness tests were performed before and after the treatment procedure. Representative specimens from each group were selected for morphology investigation after the final tests. A significant color change was observed in group HP, BG before HP, BG after HP and BG during HP. The microhardness loss was in the following order： group HP〉 BG before HP, BG after HP〉 BG during HP〉DDW, BG. The most obvious morphological alteration of was observed on enamel surfaces in group HP, and a slight morphological alteration was also detected in group BG before HP and BG after HP. Our findings suggest that the combination use of BG and HP could not impede the tooth whitening efficacy. Using BG during HP brought better protective effect than pre/post-bleaching use of BG, as it could more effectively reduce the mineral loss as well as retain the surface integrity of enamel. BG may serve as a promising biomimetic adjunct for bleaching therapy to prevent/restore the enamel damage induced by bleaching agents.
基金supported by an NSF-DIG grant (DEB-0709660)an NIH grant (HD057974)the University of Washington Hack Estate
文摘The tooth enamel development gene, enamelin （ENAM）, showed evidence of positive selection during a genome-wide scan of human and primate DNA for signs of adaptive evolution. The current study examined the hypothesis that a single-nucleotide polymorphism （SNP） C14625T （rs7671281） in the ENAM gene identified in the genome-wide scan is associated with a change in enamel phenotype. African Americans were selected as the target population, as they have been reported to have a target SNP frequency of approximately 50%, whereas non-Africans are predicted to have a 96% SNP frequency. Digital radiographs and DNA samples from 244 teeth in 133 subjects were analysed, and enamel thickness was assessed in relation to SNP status, controlling for age, sex, tooth number and crown length. Crown length was found to increase with molar number, and females were found to have thicker enamel. Teeth with larger crowns also had thicker enamel, and older subjects had thinner enamel. Linear regression and generalized estimating equations were used to investigate the relationship between enamel thickness of the mandibular molars and ENAM SNP status; enamel in subjects with the derived allele was significantly thinner （P= 0.040） when the results were controlled for sex, age, tooth number and crown length. The derived allele demonstrated a recessive effect on the phenotype. The data indicate that thinner dental enamel is associated with the derived ENAM genotype. This is the first direct evidence of a dental gene implicated in human adaptive evolution as having a phenotypic effect on an oral structure.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81171744)the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province of China (Grant H201418)
文摘FAM20A has been studied to a very limited extent. Mutations in human FAM20A cause amelogenesis imperfecta, gingival fibromatosis and kidney problems. It would be desirable to systemically analyse the expression of FAM20A in dental tissues and to assess the pathological changes when this molecule is specifically nullified in individual tissues. Recently, we generated mice with a Fam2OA-floxed allele containing the beta-galactosidase reporter gene. We analysed FAM20A expression in dental tissues using X-Gal staining, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, which showed that the ameloblasts in the mouse mandibular first molar began to express FAM20A at 1 day after birth, and the reduced enamel epithelium in erupting molars expressed a significant level of FAM2OA. By breeding K14-Cre mice with Fam20An^x/fl^x mice, we created K14-Cre;Fam20Af/flox/flox （conditional knock out, cKO） mice, in which Fam20A was inactivated in the epithelium. We analysed the dental tissues of cKO mice using X-ray radiography： histology and immunohistochemistry. The molar enamel matrix in cKO mice was much thinner than normal and was often separated from the dentinoenamel junction. The Fam2OA-deficient ameloblasts were non-polarized and disorganized and were detached from the enamel matrix. The enamel abnormality in cKO mice was consistent with the diagnosis of amelogenesis imperfecta. The levels of enamelin and matrix metalloproteinase 20 were lower in the ameloblasts and enamel of cKO mice than the normal mice, The cKO mice had remarkable delays in the eruption of molars and hyperplasia of the gingival epithelium. The findings emphasize the essential roles of FAM20A in the development of dental and oral tissues.
文摘This in vitrostudy aims to evaluate the crystal and surface microstructure of dental enamel after cold-light bleaching treatment. Twelve sound human premolars were cross-split into four specimens, namely, mesio-buccal （Group LP）, disto-buccal （Group P）, mesio-lingual （Group NP） and disto-lingual （Group L） specimens. These four groups were treated using the standard cold-light bleaching procedure, a bleaching agent, a peroxide-free bleaching agent and cold-light, respectively. Before and after treatment, all specimens were analyzed by high-resolution, micro-area X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Using a spectrometer, tooth color of all specimens was measured before and after treatment. The phase of the enamel crystals was identified as hydroxyapatite and carbonated hydroxyapatite. After treatment, specimens in Groups LP and P showed significantly weaker X-ray diffraction peaks, significant reduction in crystal size and crystallinity, significant increase in L~ but decrease in a＊ and b＊, and obvious alterations in the surface morphology. However, specimens in Groups NP and L did not show any significant changes. The cold-light bleaching treatment leads to demineralization in the enamel surface. The acidic peroxide-containing bleaching agent was the major cause of demineralization, whereas cold-light did not exhibit significant increase or decrease effect on this demineralization.
