Abstract
Ag (NH3) 2F has been shown to prevent dental caries and also depress the severity of dental caries in clinical surverys. However, this compoun d has the disadvantage of blacking caries or immature permanent teeth. From the results of both epidemiological surverys and animal experiments, molybdenum is also considered to be effective in reducing dental caries. Therefore, we have developed a new drug containing fluori d e and molybdenum, (NH4) 2MoO2F4, and examined its effects on the severity of dental caries in rats in comparison with Ag(NH3) 2F and acid phosphate fluoride (APF). The animals, fed cariesinducing diet 2000, were infected with Streptococcus mutans MT7038R (Serotype d)for 5 days. Four weeks after the first infection, (NH4) 2MoO2F4, Ag(NH3) 2F, APF or distilled water, used as a control, were applied to the lower molars of rats. The applications were carried out 8 times (once a week) during the experimental period. All of the animals were sacrificed 84 days after infection and t h e plaque and caries score were estimated. The results demonstrated no statistical difference in the increase of body weight among the infection groups. However, (NH4) 2MoO2F4 was demonstrated to depress the severity of dental caries to that observed with Ag(NH3) 2. Furthermore, (NH4) 2MoO2F4, in contrast to (NH3) 2F, did not blacken the molars.
