Effects of F- on apatite-octacalcium phosphate intergrowth and crystal morphology in a model system of tooth enamel formation.

In order to study the effect of F- on tooth enamel-like apatite formation, crystal growth experiments were carried out in the presence of 0.1 approximately 2 ppm F- at 37 degrees C and at pH 6.5 in a model system of enamel formation where octacalcium phosphate (OCP) was stable. Morphology changed from long and thin ribbons to small needle-like plates, and the product changed from OCP to apatite with an increase in F- concentration. In the presence of 0.1-1 ppm F-, apatite-OCP intergrowth took place, and crystals composed of apatite and OCP lamellas were formed. These crystals showed long and thin plate-like morphology and embeded an OCP lamella in the center of the crystal. The OCP lamella and its (100) planes were parallel to the (100) planes of apatite. The thickness of OCP decreased and that of apatite increased with an increase in F- concentration. Some apatite crystals obtained at 1 ppm F- embedded a central plane instead of the distinct OCP lamella. The result indicates that initially formed, thin, plate-like OCP acted as a template for the subsequent epitaxial overgrowth of apatite and, moreover, F- played an important role in regulating the apatite-OCP intergrowth.