Enamel  Maturation of  Children's Permanent Teeth after Their Eruption

The problem of caries prevention is closely related to enamel formation. The bud  stage and maturation stage after tooth eruption are of importance because teeth are erupted with unaccomplished mineralisation and their further mineralisation is going on in oral cavity. In the stage of tooth eruption  the peak of caries attack is observed, therefore this period is considered as a "risk period". In this context the study of mechanisms and  periods of  enamel maturation  are essential for caries prevention in childhood.

The purpose of this research is to investigate enamel maturation in  children's permanent teeth after their eruption in order to determine the optimal period for caries preventing therapy.

Method:

Fifty five-year-olds using a hygienic tooth paste without fluorides were under clinical observation. Electrical conductivity of enamel of tubercles and fissures of permanent molars  during  2 years  starting from their eruption was studied. The level of mineralization was researched based on the enamel conductivity.

Result:

The results showed that active mineralization of tubercles' enamel starts in a month time after tooth eruption and finishes in a year period. As to fissures, the situation is quite opposite. A fractional, up to 20%-mineralization, was achieved in a 3-month period. In a 6-month period the mineralization level decreased and reached its initial value. By the end of the second year the mineralisation level fell down and was three times less than that at the start point. So, fissure mineralization  in permanent teeth was not accomplished and the fissures' enamel was demineralised. Clinical  research demonstrated  the signs of caries.

Conclusion:

The results of research have pointed out that time periods of fissures' enamel maturation for permanent teeth are 2-4 months starting from the moment of tooth eruption. It was this period that has to be used for  fissure caries prevention.