The purpose of this study was to evaluate dental erosion in 0.1 and 1.0% citric acid in vitro to assess the protective potential of experimentally formed salivary pellicle (24 h in vitro). Enamel slabs were embedded in epoxy resin and polished. Erosion was performed in citric acid f or 1 , 5 o r 1 0 m in and r ecorded a s m icrohardness loss. Significant microhardness loss on non-pelliclecovered specimens was measured after 1min exposure to 0.1% citric acid. Microhardness loss was time- and concentration-dependent. Salivary pellicle significantly inhibited both microhardness loss, except after 10-min immersion in 1.0% citric acid. The results support the general conclusion that salivary pellicle effectively protects enamel surface against short-term erosion in organic acids.
Keywords:- dental erosion
- gastroesophageal reflux
- MICROHARDNESS
- SALIVARY PELLICLE
- SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY.