Comparison of remineralization effect of three topical fluoride regimens on enamel initial carious lesions.
OBJECTIVE
Some studies have been conducted to evaluate the effect of different topical fluoride regimens on the remineralization of initial carious lesions. This study was conducted to compare the effects of 3 topical fluoride treatments on the surface microhardness, fluoride uptake, and fluorescence lesion area in enamel.


METHODS
Forty-eight bovine teeth were demineralized and subjected to one of the following treatments: (1) no treatment (control), (2) iontophoresis using 2% sodium fluoride solution, (3) 1.23% acidulated phosphate fluoride gel application, and (4) 5% sodium fluoride varnish application. Six persons continuously wore a mandibular removable appliance mounted with eight treated bovine teeth orally for 4 weeks, except while eating, sleeping, and brushing. Microhardness of enamel surfaces was measured using a digital microhardness tester. The fluoride concentration was analyzed using a fluoride electrode, and the fluorescence lesion area was calculated by confocal laser scanning microscopy.


RESULTS
No significant differences in the microhardness were observed in response to the 3 fluoride regimens. The highest level of fluoride was observed in the APF gel group. APF gel group also showed significantly reduced fluorescence lesion areas compared to those of the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The fluoride regimens showed no difference in surface microhardness; although APF gel showed the best effects in terms of fluoride uptake and decrease in the fluorescence lesion area, its effects were not significantly different from those of fluoride varnish.
Lee
Y E
YE
Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, 2-188-1, Jung-Gu, Samduk-Dong, 700-412, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Baek
H J
HJ
Choi
Y H
YH
Jeong
S H
SH
Park
Y D
YD
Song
K B
KB
D000149:Acidulated Phosphate Fluoride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002417:Cattle; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005453:Fluorescence; D005459:Fluorides / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005460:Fluorides, Topical / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005782:Gels; D006244:Hardness; D006801:Humans; D017736:Ion-Selective Electrodes; D007478:Iontophoresis; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014089:Tooth Remineralization / Q000379:methods*
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D005460:Fluorides, Topical; D005782:Gels; D000149:Acidulated Phosphate Fluoride; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; D005459:Fluorides