A novel lower removable acrylic appliance to investigate the pathogenesis of the incipient carious lesion in enamel is described. Pilot enamel demineralisation and remineralisation studies have been undertaken. Ground enamel sections were cut from undemineralised enamel or from teeth on which artificial lesions had been created. These were varnished and mounted on the base of experimental troughs in an appliance and subjected to the natural oral environment of a volunteer’s mouth. The individual’s diet was not altered but an F or non-F dentifrice was used as dictated by the experimental protocol. Microradiographs of the tooth sections were taken at baseline and at weekly intervals. In the demineralisation study, 3 sections out of 20 showed areas of demineralisation after only 2 weeks, whereas in the remineralisation study an increase in the mineral content of the surface zone was evident in 3 out of 4 sections after the same period, but in all sections after 5 we
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