Journal of Dental Research, Vol 66, 1523-1526, Copyright © 1987 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Enhanced enamel F uptake by monocalcium phosphate monohydrate gels
S. Takagi, L. C. Chow, E. M. Yamada and W. E. Brown
Application of DCPD-forming solutions has been shown to increase
substantially the enamel reactivity toward F. The effectiveness of a
variation of this treatment procedure, in which the DCPD-forming solution
was replaced by a viscous carboxymethylcellulose gel containing monocalcium
phosphate monohydrate (MCPM), was evaluated by use of 12 extracted human
molars. The MCPM gel was highly effective in enhancing the F uptake by
enamel. The mean F uptakes by teeth treated with MCPM gel, followed by
exposure to a F solution, were 3972 (+/- 565), 2383 (+/- 312), and 1751
(+/- 313) ppm, respectively, in the outer 5-, 10-, and 15-microns depths in
enamel. These uptakes were 2374, 1273, and 852 ppm more than those of the
control teeth. Because the F solution was undersaturated with respect to
CaF2, the F incorporated into the enamel was believed to be in apatitic
form and not as CaF2. The MCPM gel has advantages over the DCPD-forming
solution because (1) much longer gel-tooth contact times can be achieved,
and (2) the treatment agent can readily be delivered to specific sites
where the tooth needs the protection most.
