Journal of Dental Research, Vol 63, 133-136, Copyright © 1984 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Enamel fluoride uptake and acid resistance in subjects with high and low experimental cariogenicity
C. A. Ostrom, T. Koulourides, D. H. Retief and E. L. Bradley
The response of bovine enamel to intra-oral cariogenic environments was
studied in human volunteers. Enamel slabs were mounted in dentures and
treated with either 10% sucrose or 10% sucrose plus 20 ppm fluoride
mouthrinses for one minute five times daily. After one week, these enamel
slabs were studied for change in surface hardness and for the degree of
fluoride incorporation, or for their resistance to acid acquired by the
intra-oral exposure. Among the eight subjects, those with the highest
experimental cariogenicity exhibited the highest benefit of enamel from the
fluoride in terms of fluoride incorporation and in their resistance to the
subsequent acid test. The results suggest that cariogenic activity and
fluoride will synergistically improve the tooth resistance to subsequent
attack, apparently through mineral exchange that favors the formation of
acid-resistant minerals with high fluoride content within enamel lesions.
