1999 Volume 41 Issue 2 Pages 173-179
Root surface can be exposed to the oral environment by periodontal disease and its treatment, and might therefore be at risk for caries attack. Stannous fluoride has been demonstrated to have a preventive effect on root caries.
We prepared an 8% stannous fluoride gel that was convenient for topical application.
The purpose of this research was to study the inhibition of dentin demineralization by 8% stannous fluoride gel.
Five kinds of treatments were each done for 4 minutes as follows:
A: apply 8% stannous fluoride gel (Gel), B: immerse in 8% stannous fluoride solution (SnF2), C: apply acidulated phosphate-fluoride gel (APF), D: apply 3% propylene glycol alginate solution (PGA) and E: immerse in deionized water (control).
After treatment, each specimen was immersed in 0.2 M acetic acid for 30 minutes for dentin demineralization.
The concentrations of calcium (Ca) in 0.2M acetic acid were determined and each specimen was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
The concentrations of Ca in 0.2M acetic acid after treatments A, B, and C were significantly lower than those after treatments D and E (p<0.001).
With SEM observations, dentin surfaces after treatments D and E showed a lack of smear layer and abundances of patent dentinal tubuli. The numbers of patent dentinal tubuli on dentin surfaces after treatments A, B and C were fewer than those after treatments D and E.
It is therefore concluded that our gel may have a preventive effect on root caries. J. Jpn. Soc. Periodontol., 41: 173-179, 1999
