Topographic and radiographic profile assessment of dental erosion--Part I: Effect of acidulated carbonated beverages on human dentition.

Evidence-based case reports and epidemiologic surveys have indicated an association between dental erosion and high consumption of acidulated carbonated beverages (ACBs). This study sought to monitor the effect of exposure to ACBs on the topography and geometrical profile of disassociated human dentition. Two representatives of ACBs, caramelized (ACCB) and non-caramelized (AN-CCB), were evaluated along with control liquids. Following exposure to the fluids, qualitative assessment of topographic changes and quantitative analysis of digitized serial radiographic tracings were performed at four-week intervals for 20 weeks. Within the controlled perimeters of this in vitro test, the erosive effects of ACBs were closely similar but were lower than those caused by acetic acid (control fluid). These effects were indicated by changes in enamel topography (such as color, translucency, texture, and integrity) as well as reduction in specimen profile parameters. This amounted to an average weekly reduction in cusp tip height, a loss of cervical enamel, a reduction of enamel cap height, and reduction of crown radius for the ACBs and acetic acid.