The formation and remineralization of artificial white spot lesions: a constant composition approach.

Artificial white spot lesions have been prepared on bovine enamel surfaces by the controlled addition of lactate buffer containing methylhydroxydiphosphonate ions. The rates of remineralization have been measured using a constant composition method in solutions of calcium phosphate of low supersaturation. Deposition of new hydroxyapatite solid phase takes place exclusively within the white spot lesion at a rate appreciably slower than that of an acid-etched enamel surface, probably due to the presence of methylhydroxydiphosphonate located within the intact surface region of the lesion.