Chemistry of enamel caries Flashcards
describe the concept of supersaturation
- ionic materials will only precipitate if surrounding solution is above saturation point
- ionic material will only dissolve is the surrounding solution is below the saturation point
- saturation is achieved when the solubility product reaches a certain value
when will ionic materials precipitate
if surrounding solution is above the saturation point
when will ionic materials dissolve
if surrounding solution is below the saturation point
when Is saturation achieved
when the solubility product reaches a certain value
what is the solubility product for binary salt XY
Ksp = [X] + [Y]
what is Ksp
- Product of conc of component ions
- split into separate ions when in contact with fluid
what does fluoride drive
remineralisation due to solubility product between fluorapaite and hydroxyapatite
decreases solubility product, lowers saturation point, above which precipitation occurs
- less soluble than HAP
what is unsaturated with respect to enamel
plaque but super saturated with respect to fluroapatite
what is critical to understanding g enamel HAP dissolution
ionisation of phosphate ions
phosphate slats = positively charged ions attached to negatively charged oxygen atoms of phosphate ions- forming ionic compound
- HAP has Ca as positive ion
- crystalline HAP in minerlaizsed tooth will dissolve in plaque if pH is reduced to less than 5.5
which forms is inorganic phosphate present in
PO43-, HPO42− , H2PO4− and H3PO4 (dependant on ph)
what happens to the concentration of phosphate when the PH is low
lower the ph, the lower conc of phosphate
when the pH is low what happens
more H+ ions added to plaque fluid or saliva
phosphate ions increasingly less able to maintain bond to calcium ions within HAP mineral in enamel
what is the concept of critical PH
- above PH 5.5 dominant phosphate ion HPO42-
- below pH 5.5 dominant phosphate ion
H2PO4-
what happens below and above PH 5.5.
above ph - ionic binding to lattice especially to adjacent calcium ions is weakened and ions can move into solution ,
below critical pH - enamel starts to dissolve