title: Acidulated phosphate fluoride treatment and formation of caries-like lesions in enamel: effect of application time.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF) application time (1 and 4 minutes) on caries-like lesion formation in enamel. Following a fluoride-free prophylaxis, the specimens (10 extracted human molars) were divided into tooth quarters and assigned to treatment groups: 1) Distobuccal and Distolingual Quarters--1 minute APF; 2) Mesiobuccal and Mesiolingual Quarters--4 minute APF. Acid-resistant varnish was applied to the tooth quarters, leaving sound enamel windows exposed on buccal and lingual surfaces. Following treatment, the APF gel (Oral-B Minute Gel) was removed by air-water spray rinsing, followed by a 24-hour water rinse. Sound enamel windows protected from APF treatment by acid-resistant varnish were created adjacent to APF-treated sound enamel windows and served as paired controls. Lesions were created in APF-treated and paired control sound enamel windows with an acidified gel. After lesion formation, sections were obtained and imbibed with water for polarized light study. Body of the lesion depths were measured and compared statistically. Mean body of the lesion depths were: 186 +/- 28 microns for control lesions, 117 +/- 12 microns for APF-1min; and 111 +/- 14 microns for APF-4min. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between paired control and APF groups. No difference (p > 0.05) was found between APF-1min and APF-4min groups. APF treatment prior to lesion formation resulted in a significant reduction in lesion depth, regardless of whether a 1 or 4 minute APF treatment period was used. The 1 minute APF treatment provided the same degree of caries protection as the longer treatment period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Dental School, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7888, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Garcia-Godoy
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Hicks
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Flaitz
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Berg
mesh_terms: D000149:Acidulated Phosphate Fluoride / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005459:Fluorides / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005460:Fluorides, Topical / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D008963:Molar / Q000473:pathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005460:Fluorides, Topical; D005782:Gels; D000149:Acidulated Phosphate Fluoride; D005459:Fluorides