Lower fluoride concentrations for topical application. In vitro study on human dental enamel.

Abstract

The potential toxicity of fluoride application can be reduced by using lower fluoride concentrations. A previous study has shown that 0.4% F–– and 1.2% F–– organic fluoride gels were equally effective in preventing demineralization in both sound and primed human enamel. In this study 0.4, 0.1 and 0.01 % F–– amine fluoride and acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) solutions were tested to see whether a further reduction in concentration was possible. All amine fluoride groups and 0.4% F–– APF showed significantly shallower lesions than controls. Lesion depth in both amine fluoride and APF groups increased with decreasing F–– concentration. APF groups showed a tendency for deeper lesions than amine fluoride groups. All fluoride groups showed significantly higher minimum vol% mineral in the subsurface lesion than the controls; these values decreased with decreasing F–– concentration. It can be concluded that under these experimental conditions adequate protection against further acid attack was provided by 0.4% F–– amine fluoride followed by 0.4% F–– APF.