The effect of polyvalent metal ion mordanting on caries-like lesion progression in enamel.

The ability of metal ion mordanting followed by APF application to inhibit the progression of caries-like lesions was compared with APF treatment alone. The progression of the lesion was investigated in vitro using an acidified gel system, and the lesions were compared using polarized light microscopy. Both ferric and zirconyl pre-treatments, but not titanium, were shown to inhibit lesion progression to a greater extent than did APF. This inhibition was thought to be due to the presence of an amorphous-type coating similar to those produced on sound enamel by metal ion mordanting.