Enamel apatite nucleation and crystal growth.

The course of enamel remineralization in aqueous solution is markedly dependent upon factors such as ionic medium supersaturation, pH, ionic strength, and the relative concentration of mineralizing surface. Although numerous attempts have been made to determine the mechanism of both the spontaneous and seeded precipitation reactions, it is only recently, through the use of a constant solution composition technique, that quantitative information can be obtained concerning the intermediate calcium phosphate phases which are formed during mineralization. Studies of surface phases in the presence of potential anti-calculus and anti-caries agents are facilitated using this approach.