A comparison of the preventive effects of lanthanides and fluoride on human experimental root surface carious-like lesions.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the mechanisms of lanthanides prevention of human root surface carious-like lesions and to compare the effectiveness of lanthanum (La) with that of cerium (Ce) and fluoride (F). Various treatment procedures were also compared.


METHODS
Acetic buffers containing lanthanum, cerium, and fluoride (500 ppm) were used individually or in combination to treat 48 cementum-dentin samples. The acid-resistant capacity of various treatment procedures was evaluated by means of scanning electron microscope, electron microprobe, and polarizing light microscope analyses.


RESULTS
The acid-resistant effects of lanthanide element were comparable to those of fluoride, and their acid-resistant effects were even stronger when combined with fluoride and cerium. These effects are likely due to the formation of La(Ce)HAP, FLa(Ce)HAP, and lanthanum/cerium phosphate compounds.


CONCLUSIONS
Combined F/La(Ce) was more effective in the prevention of root surface caries than were lanthanides alone.
Zhang
W
W
Department of Oral Pathology, School of Stomatology, Shanghai Second Medical University (SSMU), P. R. China.
Jin
H
H
Liu
A
A
D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D002563:Cerium / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D005459:Fluorides / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007811:Lanthanum / Q000032:analysis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization; D017213:Root Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*
D004338:Drug Combinations; D002563:Cerium; D007811:Lanthanum; D019342:Acetic Acid; D005459:Fluorides