Evaluation of fluoride release into saliva after topical application: an in vitro experiment

Abstract

Fluoride is the most important element in caries prevention and control. Topical fluoride therapies, self-applied or professional procedures, are frequently used such as dentifrices, mouthwashes, varnished, gels etc. The most important thing for a topical fluoride therapy irrespective of type of substance, method, concentration or frequency of application is fluoride concentration in oral fluid or in dental plaque. This study is an in vitro experiment developed on extracted teeth. Teeth were fluoridated with tin fluoride gel (0.4%) after they were cleaned with an ultrasonic scaler, water and immersed in a hypochlorite solution for 10 minutes. Afterward, the concentration of fluoride released from the teeth enamel was measured at 24, 48, and 72 hours using HI-729 Fluoride Low Range Handheld Colorimeter device. The amount of fluoride released between 48 hours and 24 hours from fluoridation (0.22 – 0.37 ppm) was a higher than the one released between 72 and 48 hours from fluoridation (0.15 – 0.18 ppm). The amount of fluoride released from the teeth enamel decreases in time after the topical fluoridation.