The relative distribution of fluoride in erupted and unerupted enamel of human third molars from a low fluoride area

Enhanced penetration of fluoride particles into bovine enamel by combining dielectrophoresis with AC electroosmosis

Fluoride deposition into the pores of enamel is necessary at high concentrations to reduce enamel demineralization and with a high degree of penetration to account for loss by ingestion. Current diffusion and electrochemical methods are inadequate for effectively transporting fluoride greater than 20 μm into enamel. The study explores the coupling of dielectrophoresis (DEP) and AC electroosmosis (ACEO) to selectively concentrate fluoride particles from fluoride gel excipients and enhance their penetration into enamel. By measuring the frequency response of approximately 10-μm-sized sodium fluoride particles in an aqueous gel media, appropriate frequencies for positive DEP, negative DEP, and ACEO are identified. An assembly composed of two cross-planar interdigitated electrode (IDE) arrays with open slots is driven successively by fields at appropriate frequencies to drive fluoride particles through the slots of the IDE and into the enamel pores using a combination of DEP and ACEO methods. Fluoride uptake and penetration of 1.23% acidulated phosphate fluoride gel into bovine tooth enamel at various depths is measured using wavelength dispersive spectrometry to compare deposition by diffusion, DEP, and DEP plus ACEO. Fluoride levels in all DEP groups were significantly higher than diffusion groups at depths 10 and 20 μm. The highest fluoride concentrations at 10, 20, 50, and 100 μm depths occur under deposition conditions combining DEP with ACEO. Fluoride levels at 50 μm were equivalent to long-term prophylactic exposure. These methods may potentially benefit populations at high risk for development of caries and periodontal disease, including underserved children and disparate groups.

In vivo fluoride profiles at different sites of buccal and lingual enamel surfaces obtained by enamel biopsy of human maxillary first permanent molars in young adults

Twenty male volunteers, average age 24 years, participated in this study. Specimens were obtained by enamel biopsy using 5 microliters of 0.5 M HClO4 for 30 s. Using a regression curve, comparisons of fluoride concentrations were made at different depths. The fluoride concentrations (mean +/- SE) at a depth of 5 microns were highest in the distobuccal (1698 +/- 136), high in the mesiobuccal (1343 +/- 122), low in the distolingual (1119 +/- 107), and lowest in the mesiolingual sites (819 +/- 78). Of the interior enamels (> or = 10 microns in depth), the distobuccal site (1330 +/- 88 parts/10(6) F at 10 microns) had a higher-concentration than all other sites. The fluoride profiles were steepest to shallowest in the order: distobuccal, mesiobuccal, distolingual and mesiolingual. There were no correlations between the enamel fluoride concentrations and the fluoride concentration in parotid saliva. It was concluded that in vivo fluoride profiles of maxillary first molars reflect the wear of the tooth surface with age and the condition of dental plaque deposition, and, to some extent, the site-specific distribution of saliva between buccal and lingual surfaces.

Fluoride profiles in different surfaces of human permanent molar enamels from a naturally fluoridated and a non-fluoridated area

The surfaces, sites and depths of fluoride profiles of enamel from a naturally fluoridated area (West Hartlepool, WHP, 1.9 parts/10(6) F in drinking water) and a non-fluoridated area (Leeds, LDS, < 0.1 parts/10(6) F in drinking water) were examined in detail. Using a regression curve, y = ax-b, comparisons of fluoride concentrations were made at depths of 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 and 30 microns at occlusal, middle and cervical sites of buccal, lingual, mesial and distal molar enamel surfaces. In the outermost enamels (< 10 mu in depth), fluoride concentrations tended to be lower in the occlusal sites than in the cervical sites. In interior enamels (> 20 microns in depth), the fluoride concentrations of molars from WHP were statistically higher than those from LDS, while few significant differences were found in the outermost layers. In the mesio- and disto-occlusal sites of approximal surfaces, there were some significant differences in the exponential regression coefficients of fluoride profiles between the two groups of molars.

Alkali-soluble and insoluble fluoride in erupted and unerupted human enamel from a high fluoride area with a low fluorosis score

The amounts of fluoroapatite and 'CaF2-like' fluoride (F) were determined in enamel of unerupted and erupted teeth that had been exposed in vivo to 1.8-2.6 parts/10(6) F in the drinking water and to brushing with F dentifrice at least once a day, and occasionally to a F mouth-rinse (0.022% F). Enamel was sampled by acid-etching and the F levels were measured with an adapted F ion-selective electrode. More F was built into the deeper enamel in the high-F area than in a similar low-F area. Unerupted enamel did not etch significantly (p > 0.05) deeper than erupted enamel. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found in the F concentrations amongst the following: alkali-washed erupted, unwashed erupted, alkali-washed unerupted and unwashed unerupted at the outer most enamel (approx. 6 microns). However the erupted enamel (alkali-washed or not) showed higher F levels than unerupted enamel (alkali-washed or not) between approx. 6 microns and greater than 100 microns. The increase of F for this high-F area was about 100% in the deeper enamel while for a low-F area it was approx. 78% in the most outer enamel with no increase after a depth of about 20 microns. In contrast to a similar low-F area (water F < 0.10 parts/10(6)), no significant 'CaF2-like' F could be detected in erupted or unerupted enamel for the high-F area.

Fluoride analysis in nanoliter- and microliter-size fluid samples

A variety of techniques is described for measuring fluoride in volumes of from 0.005 to 5 microL, including: (1) micropipette procedures for transference and dilution of samples, (2) construction of miniature and micro fluoride-selective electrodes, and (3) methods for adapting standard electrodes for micro- and semi-micro volumes. These described techniques have a number of advantages, including speed of analysis, high accuracy, and adaptability to many types of fluid samples. Recent studies involving use of these procedures include the analysis of fluoride in: (1) plaque fluid samples from single sites before and after topical fluoride administration, (2) tooth mineral samples recovered by acid-etch or microdrill biopsy of enamel, and (3) fluid recovered from the interior of the tooth during simulation of the caries process.

Alkali-soluble and insoluble fluoride in erupted and unerupted sound enamel of human third molars in vivo

The amounts of firmly and loosely bound fluoride were determined in sound enamel of unerupted and erupted teeth which had been exposed in vivo for 1-16 yr to brushing at least once a day, and occasionally to mouth rinsing and the application of sealers. Enamel was sampled by an acid-etch procedure, and the fluoride levels were measured with an adapted fluoride ion-selective electrode. Unerupted enamel was etched significantly (p less than 0.05) deeper than erupted enamel up to a depth of at least 8 microns. Significant differences (p less than 0.05) were found between the mean enamel fluoride concentrations of unwashed and alkali-washed, erupted teeth up to a depth of at least 3 microns and also between unwashed or washed, erupted versus unwashed or washed, unerupted teeth. At a depth of 3 microns, the fluoride treatments of enamel had increased the total amount of fluoride by approx. 78% of which approx. 53% was loosely bound fluoride (like CaF2) and 47% firmly bound (like fluorapatite). No increase in sound enamel fluoride as a result of topical treatments over a period of up to 16 yr could be found at a level deeper than 20 microns.