• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.148-172
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• 1997

Sixty human premolar teeth were used for this in vitro study. After each tooth was sectioned mesiodistally, one half was used for the experimental group and the other half for the control. Three groups were made for each fluoride applying method and twenthy teeth were assigned to each group. Ten teeth were used for evaluating total fluoride amount and the other ten were used for firmly-bound fluoride. Fluorshield was used for fluoride-releasing sealant and 1.23% APF, 0.05% NaF were used for topical application fluorides. Each tooth was cleaned with a tooth brush using nonfluoride containing pumice before the experiment. In the sealant group, fluoroshield was applied to the enamel surface without etching procedure and stored in $37^{\circ}C$ saline for 30 days. After 30 days, sealant was removed with explorer without scratching the enamel surface and washed with distilled water and dried. In the APF group, each tooth was immersed in 1.23% APF for 30 min then washed and dried in the same manner. In the NaF group, each tooth was immersed in 0.05% NaF for 24 hours then washed and dried as described above. After each fluoride regimen was applied, ten teeth were randomly selected from each group and immersed in 1M KOH solution for 24 hours to remove loosely-bound fluoride possibly deposited by the three different fluorides applied. In each group, total fluoride amount deposited and the amount of enamel removed by acid biopsy were calculated. After loosely-bound fluoride was removed, firmly-bound fluoride deposited and the amount of enamel removed by acid biopsy were also calculated. Total fluoride amount deposition was significantly increased in the APF and NaF groups, but not in the sealant group. Amount of enamel removed by acid-biopsy was also significantly diminished in the APF and NaF groups, but not in the sealant groups. After loosely-bound fluoride was removed from each groups, no statistical difference was found in the amount of firmly-bound fluoride in any groups. Also no effect of firmly-bound fluoride on enamel dissolution was shown in any groups after loosely-bound fluoride was removed from each group. In conclusion, topical application method of APF or NaF is more effective than fluoride-releasing sealant application to make $CaF_2$ coating on enamel surface and $CaF_2$ coating is the main source for anticariogenic effect of fluoride. However, longterm anticariogenic effect of fluoride-releasing sealant should be further evaluated.