The influence of different fluoride compounds and treatment conditions on dental enamel: A descriptive in vitro study of the CaF2 precipitation and microstructure

Electron and atomic force microscopy techniques have been applied to characteriz e both the in vitro deposition and the microstructure of the KOH-soluble fluorid e precipitates on human dental enamel. The study was focused on the effects of a mine fluoride, sodium fluoride and sodium monofluorophosphate having a fluoride concentration of 0.1% F in acidulated and aqueous solutions. Under certain condi tions, fluoride globules were formed within an initation time of less than 20 s. This result supports the potential significance of this process for the cariost atic action of fluorides during dentifrice use. The deposition intensity seems t o be dependent on the availability of Ca and F ions on the dental surface. A nan ocrystalline calcium fluoride-like microstructure was revealed, with an addition al phosphorus and oxygen incorporation as a function of the treatment time.