2009 Volume 52 Issue 6 Pages 446-452
Ammonium hexafluorosilicate (SiF: (NH4)2SiF6) was prepared in order to overcome the tooth discoloration caused by diamine silver fluoride (Saforide®). In our previous study, a constant concentration of SiF solution (9,000ppm) was used to compare its fluoridation effect with that of acidulated phosphate fluoride (APF). Therefore, the effects of the concentration of SiF solution on the occlusion of dentin tubules and composition of the precipitate remain unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of changing the concentration of SiF on its clinical application as a dentin hypersensitivity treatment. Several SiF solution concentrations (from 100 to 19,400ppm) were prepared. Occlusion after treatment with these SiF solutions was evaluated using human dentin disks. The surface of dentin disks was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Also, the composition of the precipitate formed in dentin tubules after being treated with the SiF solutions was analyzed with energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDXA). SEM observation showed that open dentin tubules were completely occluded irrespective of the concentration of SiF solution. EDXA analysis showed that the Ca/P molar ratio of the precipitate formed in the dentin tubules after SiF treatment gradually increased from 1.5 (100ppm SiF solution) to 2.1 (19,400ppm SiF solution) with the concentration of SiF solution. It was concluded that the occlusion of dentin tubules upon SiF treatment was the same irrespective of the concentration of the SiF solution. However, the composition of the precipitate formed in dentin tubules was governed by the concentration of the SiF solution.
