This document presents a research proposal that aims to determine which beverages cause the most damage to tooth enamel. The hypothesis is that the beverage with the highest sugar content will cause the most enamel erosion due to the acid produced by Streptococcus mutans bacteria metabolizing the sugars. The objectives are to identify the beverage that causes the most enamel erosion, establish a relationship between sugar content and pH level in erosion, and understand why orthodontic treatments forbid some beverages. A variety of techniques will be used, including growing S. mutans in beverages with teeth samples and measuring enamel erosion with profilometry and microscopy.

1. Tooth Enamel Erosion
Mónica C. del Moral
RISE Summer 2013
Research Proposal

2. Inquiry
• We like many beverages that in excess are
bad for our oral health.
• Bacteria and metabolism

3. Background Information
• Caries
• Tooth enamel
• Streptococcus mutans
• surface profilometer
• focus variation

4. http://www.upc.edu/pct/es/equip/399/perfilo
metro-mecanico.html
http://www.azom.com/materials-videos.aspx?
cat=19
Profilometers
http://expo21xx.com/sens
or/19868_st3_microscope/
default.htm
Optical 3D
microscope
Infinite
Focus

5. Hypothesis
• According to the conversion of
carbohydrates to lactic acid by the
streptococcus mutans (S.mutans) bacteria,
the beverage with the most sugar content
will cause the most damage to the tooth
enamel.

6. Objectives
• to determine which of the beverages
chosen is the one that causes the most
damage to the tooth enamel
• to establish if there is a relation between
sugar content and pH level in the erosion
of the tooth
• To understand why orthodontic
treatments forbid the consumption of
some beverages.

7. Materials
• Teeth
• Saliva
• Beverages
• Well plates
• Micropipettes
• Petri dishes
• pH meter
• Contact-stylus
surface
profilometer
• Optical 3D
microscope
Infinite Focus

8. Methodology
• Phase 1
– Petri dishes
• Phase 2
– Premeasures
– Dividing and labeling
– Saliva and beverages
– Add teeth
– Observe
– Measurements
– Comparison and analysis

9. Bibliography
– Vieira, A.R, Deelev, K.B, Callahan, N.F, and others; Detection of
Streptococcus mutans Genomic DNA in Human DNA Samples Extracted
from Saliva and Blood; ISRN Dent.; Published online 2011 April 10;
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3128887/
– What lives inside your mouth?;
http://science.education.nih.gov/supplements/nih2/oral-health/guide/pdfs
– What acid is produced by bacteria?; Yahoo answers; 2010;
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100622085725AAFMIL0
– Odontología UNA; Streptococcus mutans;
http://es.slideshare.net/dicefalo18/streptococcus-mutans
– The free dictionary; Dental biofilm; Farlex; 2008;
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/dental+biofilm
– Fonseca, G.; Esmalte Dental; UNIVERSIDAD PRIVADA ANTERNOR
ORREGO; http://www.scribd.com/doc/517866/ESMALTE-DENTAL
– The free dictionary; Caries; Farlex; 2007;
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/caries

10. – The free dictionary; Profilometer; Farlex; 2007, 2012;
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/profilometer
– Brook Anco; Focus Variation Systems; Brook Anco Corporation; 2013;
http://www.brookanco.com/Focus_Variation_Systems.html
– Vorburger, T.; Optical Methods of Surface Measurements; National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); Measurement Science
and Standards in Forensic Firearms Analysis 2012 NIST, Gaithersburg,
MD; July 10, 2012 http://www.nist.gov/oles/upload/3-Vorburger-Ted-
Optical-Methods-of-Surface-Measurement-MSSFAA-10jul12.pdf
– Fujii, M.,Kitasako, M.,Sadr,A., Tagami,J.; Roughness and pH changes
of enamel surface induced by soft drinks in vitro-applications of stylus
profilometry, focus variation 3D scanning microscopy and micro pH
sensor; Department of Restorative Sciences, Tokyo Medical and
Dental University, Tokyo 113-8549, Japan; 2011;
http://lib.bioinfo.pl/pmid:21597209
Bibliography

11. Thank you