Enamel and dentin mineral surfaces (HAP)

Enamel and dentin mineral surfaces are the primary inorganic components of human teeth, composed largely of a substituted form of hydroxyapatite [9, 10]. Enamel is the hardest substance in the human body, providing a protective outer layer, while dentin lies beneath it, supporting the enamel and surrounding the dental pulp [5, 15]. These mineral surfaces are the direct targets for various dental therapeutics aimed at preventing or treating dental caries and hypersensitivity [1, 10]. Drugs such as fluoride interact with these surfaces by promoting remineralization and forming fluorapatite, which is significantly more resistant to acid dissolution than the original hydroxyapatite [1, 2, 5]. Other agents, like calcium sodium phosphosilicate or silver diamine fluoride, work by occluding dentinal tubules or providing a reservoir of ions to strengthen the mineral matrix [14, 17]. Maintaining the integrity of these surfaces is crucial for oral health, as their degradation leads to tooth decay and pain [15, 16]. Consequently, these surfaces represent a unique class of therapeutic targets where the goal is the physical and chemical modification of a biological mineral rather than the modulation of a protein's activity [13, 20].

Other names

Tooth mineralDental hydroxyapatiteCarbonated hydroxyapatiteEnamel mineralDentin mineralDental hard tissue

Promotion of remineralization by providing calcium and phosphate ions, formation of acid-resistant fluorapatite through ion exchange with fluoride, and physical occlusion of dentinal tubules to block external stimuli and reduce sensitivity [1, 5, 10, 17].