Layering mechanism of MDP-Ca salt produced in demineralization of enamel and dentin apatite

- One-step self-etch adhesives containing different amounts of MDP are designed.
- Amounts of MDP-Ca salts produced by enamel and dentin depend on the MDP concentration.
- Dentin develops a greater amount of MDP-Ca salts than enamel by 1.5 times.
- Type of the molecular species of MDP-Ca salts differs between enamel and dentin.
- Species of MDP-Ca salts forming a layered structure differs between enamel and dentin.

ObjectiveThe 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP) (EX adhesives)-based one-step self-etch adhesives have become widely utilized due to their simplified application procedures. The aim of this study was to determine the type of the molecular species of calcium salts of MDP (MDP-Ca salts) that form a layered structure and to understand the layering mechanism of MDP-Ca salts.MethodsThe EX adhesives were prepared by varying the amounts of MDP (25.6, 49.9, 80.5 and 116.1 mg) added in 1 g of the EX adhesive. Enamel and dentin reactant residues were obtained after the reaction of each EX adhesive to enamel or dentin particles for 30 s. The chemical analyses of both reactant residues were then performed.ResultsThe molecular species of MDP-Ca salts that form a layered structure were determined as mono-calcium salt (MCS-MD) and di-calcium salts of the MDP dimer (DCS-MD). The dentin sample showed two types of characteristic XRD peaks assigned to the layer structure, since the dentin produced DCS-MD along with MCS-MD in contrast to the enamel sample. A mono-calcium salt of the MDP monomer (MCS-MM), a predominant molecular species, was not contributed to a layered-structure formation, since the intensities of characteristic XRD peaks are limited by the production of DCS-MD and MCS-MD.SignificanceThe self-assembled layering of MCS-MD and DCS-MD is associated by a hydrophobic bond between two 10-methylene groups in MCS-MD and DCS-MD. The MCS-MD may form a more tightly-packed layered structure than DCS-MD by the hydrogen bonded interaction between hydroxy groups bonded to each phosphorous atom.