Nano-mechanical properties of fluoride-treated enamel surfaces.
Calcium-fluoride-like deposits play a key role in caries prevention by topical fluoride. Previous microhardness analyses have introduced errors due to a substrate effect, and thereby could not substantiate the early loss of these deposits. To address this question, we applied Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and a nano-indentation technique in this study to characterize the nano-mechanical properties and topographic structure of enamel surfaces following topical fluoride treatment. The deposits were found to have a low nano-hardness and a high nano-wear depth, which explains the early loss of calcium-fluoride-like deposits. However, a 22% increase in the fluoride concentration could still be detected on the treated enamel surface following the removal of the surface deposits, justifying the long-term effectiveness of topical fluoride treatment.
Jeng
Y-R
YR
Department of Mechanical Engineering of National Chung Cheng University, Chiayi, Taiwan, ROC 621. imeyrj@ccu.edu.tw
Lin
T-T
TT
Wong
T-Y
TY
Chang
H-J
HJ
Shieh
D-B
DB
D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002124:Calcium Fluoride / Q000737:chemistry; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D005460:Fluorides, Topical / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006244:Hardness; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D036103:Nanotechnology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D005460:Fluorides, Topical; D002124:Calcium Fluoride