The effect of iron on in vitro decalcification of human tooth enamel.

The effect of iron chloride on an in vitro acid attack of human enamel was studied. Slices of teeth were covered with varnish except for a window left on one of the enamel surfaces for exposure. The iron salt was used as a supplement to acid gel, or as pretreatment of the enamel surfaces before exposure to the pure gel. Differences in light transmission of the experimental and control specimen from the radiographs taken before and after immersion in the decalcifying media were assessed quantitatively. The increase in radio-opacity of the enamel sections incubated in the iron-containing acid media was attributed to a lower degree of enamel decalcification.