Featherstone J D
Department of Oral Sciences, Eastman Dental Center, Rochester, New York.
Am J Dent. 1994 Oct;7(5):271-4.
This paper reviews the probable mechanism of dental caries and the role of fluoride in the inhibition or reversal of that process. The initial stages of root caries are comparable to enamel caries, being the acid dissolution of mineral resulting from acids generated by bacterial metabolism. The fermentation of carbohydrates by oral bacteria including mutans streptococci and lactobacilli initiate the root caries process, removing mineral from among the organic matrix which is primarily composed of collagen. Subsequent to this demineralization, the organic material can be further broken down by bacterial enzymes. Fluoride inhibits mineral loss during the acid dissolution process and enhances remineralization in a similar manner to that which occurs in dental enamel.
本文综述了龋齿的可能机制以及氟化物在抑制或逆转该过程中的作用。根龋的初始阶段与釉质龋相似，是细菌代谢产生的酸导致矿物质的酸溶解。包括变形链球菌和乳酸杆菌在内的口腔细菌对碳水化合物的发酵启动了根龋过程，从主要由胶原蛋白组成的有机基质中去除矿物质。在这种脱矿之后，有机物质可被细菌酶进一步分解。氟化物在酸溶解过程中抑制矿物质流失，并以与牙釉质中发生的情况类似的方式增强再矿化。
