TOOTH-SALIVA INTERFACE PHENOMENA AND DENTAL CARIES

我们最近的研究已经证实，人类唾液中存在一种系统， 在牙齿的维护、保护和修复中起着重要的作用 搪瓷。 该系统的关键特征是唾液中存在，首先， 过饱和但稳定的钙离子和磷酸根离子浓度，以及 第二，两种唾液大分子， 通过抑制磷酸钙盐的沉淀而使唾液过饱和。 过饱和的唾液为牙齿提供了重要的保护， 提供驱动力，其首先稳定釉质矿物，其次， 防止牙釉质溶解和矿物质运输， 牙齿，第三，为许多早期龋坏的修复提供了一种机制。 病变 沉淀抑制剂通过，首先， 防止磷酸钙盐在唾液腺中沉淀， 其次，因为它们抑制钙的晶体生长 磷酸盐，它们可以防止矿物质在牙齿上不必要的堆积 面 值得注意的是，它们的作用机制不影响钙， 唾液中磷酸根离子的活性。 此外，很可能一个或两个 的抑制剂有助于形成获得性釉质膜， 存在于釉质表面上的蛋白质包被，其提供显著的 保护牙齿。 拟议研究的目的是阐明 沉淀抑制剂的作用，无论是在其分子结构， 现在已经部分了解了，根据它们在口腔中的分泌后行为， 腔 此外，我们建议建立其广泛的生物学 通过研究人类以外的物种，特别是亚人类， 用于龋齿和牙周病的灵长类和实验室动物 research. 通过这项研究，我们将更好地了解 牙齿和口腔环境之间的关系， 健康和疾病。

Our recent research has established that a system exists in human saliva which plays an important role in the maintenance, protection and repair of dental enamel. The key features of this system are the presence in saliva of, firstly, supersaturated but stabilized concentrations of calcium and phosphate ions, and secondly, two kinds of salivary macromolecules which stabilize the supersaturated saliva by inhibiting precipitation of calcium phosphate salts. The supersaturated saliva provides important protection for the teeth by providing driving forces which, firstly, stabilize the enamel mineral, secondly, oppose enamel dissolution and mineral transport during carious attack of the teeth, and, thirdly, provides a mechanism for the repair of many early carious lesions. The precipitation inhibitors control this supersaturation by, firstly, preventing precipitation of calcium phosphate salts in the salivary glands and the oral cavity, and secondly, because they inhibit crystal growth of calcium phosphate salts, they prevent unwanted accretion of mineral onto the tooth surface. Significantly, their mechanisms of action do not affect calcium and phosphate ion activities in the saliva. Also, it is probable that one or both of the inhibitors contribute to the formation of the acquired enamel pellicle, a protein integument present on the enamel surface which provides significant protection for the teeth. The purpose of the proposed research is to elucidate the mechanisms by which the precipitation inhibitors act, both in terms of their molecular structures, which are now partly known, and in terms of their post-secretion behavior in the oral cavity. In addition, we propose to establish their broad biological significance by studying species other than human, particularly sub-human primates and laboratory animals used for dental caries and periodontal disease research. From this research will come an improved understanding of important relationships which exist between the teeth and their oral environment, both in health and disease.