Incorporation of fluoride in bones and teeth and dental fluorosis in mice after administration of complex fluorides

Abstract

Adult mice were given solutions of sodium fluoride or complex fluorides, viz sodium monofluorophosphate, sodium difluorophosphate and ammonium hexafluoroaluminate, at daily doses of 150 μg F by stomach tube for 20 days. The F-content in the ash of the tibiae and incisor teeth was determined spectrophotometrically and only slight differences were found between the experimental groups treated with complex fluorides and the control group treated with sodium fluoride. Differences in the degree of fluorosis in incisor teeth, characterized histologically by the enamel persisting in an immature, acid-resistant stage, were more marked. Taking the occurrence of dental fluorosis in the control group as 100 per cent, then the occurrence in the groups treated with complex fluorides was found to be 77 per cent with monofluorophosphate, 26 per cent with difluorophosphate and 0 per cent with hexafluoroaluminate. The results show the advantage of the administration of complex fluorides as compared with NaF and suggest the possibility of using complex fluorides as effective agents in dental caries prevention in human populations.