Tooth inorganic phase

There are three distinct biological minerals in an individual tooth, viz. enamel, dentin, and cementum. The chemical composition of dentin is quite similar to that of bone, containing 70 wt% of inorganic phase, 20 wt% of organic matrix and 10 wt% of water.83 The inorganic phase of tooth... 

In contrast to calculus, dental enamel contains over 96% w/w inorganic mineral [50]. The main constituent is a single calcium phosphate phase, HAP, the structure of which contains minor impurities such as magnesium, sodium, carbonate and chloride [50]. Dental caries is a disease of bacterial origin. Certain plaque bacteria can ferment sugars and other carbohydrates from the diet to produce lactic acid and other short chain organic acids [51], If the concentration of acid depresses the pH adjacent to the tooth surface below about pH 5.5, then the enamel dissolves. 

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