Abstract
Aim. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of pH cycling on the microhardness of the enamel of primary human teeth treated with a conventional brown Sodium Fluoride (5% NaF) Varnish to those treated with a white Fluoride Varnish (5% NaF) enhanced with functionalized tricalcium phosphate (fTCP). Materials and Methods. Ninety extracted caries-free primary incisors were washed in a detergent and divided into three groups; group A received no treatment, teeth in group B were coated with Sodium Fluoride (5% NaF) Varnish, while teeth in group C were coated with 5% NaF varnish enhanced with functionalized tricalcium phosphate (fTCP). After ten days of pH cycling, the surface microhardness of the teeth was measured using a Knoop indenter. Results. The mean Knoop hardness number (KHN) of 5% NaF with fTCP was greater than that of 5% NaF alone while the control group had the lowest mean KHN. Conclusion. The results of this study suggest that the use of an additive such as fTCP to a fluoride varnish significantly improves the protective ability of the varnish on primary teeth in vitro.
Highlights
The success of topical fluoride in reducing the incidence of dental caries has been well documented [1,2,3,4]
While a recent study showed that addition of calcium and phosphate salts such as functionalized tricalcium phosphate (fTCP) may improve the mineralization of dentin of bovine teeth [13], there is little evidence of the effect of fTCP on primary teeth
Since the functional form of tricalcium phosphate has been shown to improve the uptake of fluoride and aid in remineralization of carious lesions in both enamel and dentin when incorporated into fluoride dentifrices [10,11,12], this study aimed to evaluate if a similar protective effect existed when fTCP was incorporated into a fluoride varnish
Summary
The success of topical fluoride in reducing the incidence of dental caries has been well documented [1,2,3,4]. Professionally applied topical fluoride varnish, gel, and solutions have been shown to be effective in preventing and in arresting dental caries, varnishes are preferred by the majority of dentists because of their ease of application, reduced risk of ingestion, and patient preference [2, 4]. It has been shown that the hydrolysis of phosphates or other solids could result in the formation of calcium hydroxyapatite (HAp); the polymorph of tri-calcium phosphate (a-TCP or Ca3(PO4)2) is the only single solid calcium phosphate capable of expeditious hydrolysis for the formation of Hap [8]. The functionalized form of tricalcium phosphate (fTCP) was developed as a means of improving the fluoride uptake of enamel [10, 11]. While a recent study showed that addition of calcium and phosphate salts such as fTCP may improve the mineralization of dentin of bovine teeth [13], there is little evidence of the effect of fTCP on primary teeth
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