Examination of Acid Solubility Protection Afforded Teeth by Stannous Fluoride Dentifrices

¹ U.S. Naval Dental School, National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland

An in vitro technique is described for determining the per cent reduction in acid solubility afforded the etched enamel tooth surface following treatment with different substances. This reduction, expressed as per cent protection, was determined for topically applied stannous fluoride solutions, for stannous fluoride dentifrices, and for solutions of the fluoride ion at an acid pH.

The protection afforded by three commercial stannous fluoride dentifrices was measured in vitro at a pH of 4.6-5.1. This protection was compared with that afforded by solutions containing an equivalent amount of stannous fluoride and by solutions containing an equivalent amount of fluoride ion.

Commercial stannous fluoride dentifrices, as 1:1 slurries with water, provided the same protective effect against acid solubility that was obtained with a water solution containing one-tenth the amount of stannous fluoride.

Solutions at pH 4.1-4.6 that contained no stannous ion but had a fluoride concentration equivalent to 0.2-0.4 per cent stannous fluoride also provided a protection to the etched tooth surface comparable to that of the dentifrices.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. K. Stookey, J. T. Hudson, and J. C. Muhler Laboratory Studies Concerning the Effectiveness and Safety of Various Fluoride and Fluoride-Phosphate Systems Journal of Dental Research, May 1, 1967; 46(3): 503 - 513. [PDF]