An intraoral model used for studies of fluoride incorporation in enamel

Abstract

Abstract. The effect of fluoride on experimental cariogenicity in man was investigated by using bovine enamel surfaces mounted in oral prosthetic appliances. Samples of sound and presoftened enamel were exposed to simulated cariogenic or noncariogenic conditions for 1 week. The samples were periodically immersed in vitro in solutions containing 1 ppm fluoride. For the cariogenic condition, the immersion solution was 3% sucrose, for the noncariogenic condition, water. After the experimental period, the sample enamel was assessed for hardness change and fluoride incorporation. Under the non‐cariogenic condition, partial remineralization and high fluoride incorporation were found in the presoftened enamel; both hardness change and fluoride incorporation in sound enamel were minor. The cariogenic condition contributed to higher enamel softening and higher fluoride uptake by both types of samples. The findings suggest a mechanism through which intermittent cariogenesis and remineralization in the presence of fluoride may contribute to increased tooth resistance to caries.