CHANGES OF MICROELEMENTS IN HUMAN TOOTH ENAMEL AND DENTIN UNDER NORMAL AND EXPERIMENTAL CARIES CONDITIONS

The spread of dental caries and its prevention is one of the primary issues in the healthcare systems of almost every country in the world. Among the factors causing caries, the leading one is microbial plaque, the formation intensity of which and the integration of bacterial agents into the dental structure depend on oral hygiene. Additionally, the resistance of enamel and dentin plays a significant role, which is related to the presence of mineral components that form the inorganic matrix on the tooth. Therefore, it is not surprising that researchers focus on issues concerning the tooth structure's resources, the development of the demineralization process, and the search for new methods for its reversal (remineralization). In recent years, significant progress has been made in the development of methods and means for caries prevention. The clinical use of each new product is preceded by numerous experimental and laboratory studies. Thus, the creation of an artificial model of caries, which would be a close analogue to damage formed on a natural tooth, and which can be studied with high reliability regarding both the "anatomy" of caries disease and the effects of conservative means and preventive agents on enamel and dentin, has become an important research direction in cariology. Our research involved determining the concentration of target microelements - calcium, phosphorus, and fluoride - in enamel and dentin during scanning electron-microscopic examination, both in normal conditions and during carious damage. To achieve this, it was necessary to artificially induce the carious process on extracted human teeth, leading to the cyclic alternation of de- and remineralization processes in their inorganic matrix. This simulated the effect of food and saliva on the tooth tissue. The results of this study confirm the high informational value of the method we used to induce artificial demineralization on the tooth surface. Specifically, it facilitates the acquisition of new information about the changes in the mineral composition of the tooth’s hard tissues, which serves as a foundation for evaluating and implementing new methods in the prevention and treatment of caries.