The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ammonium titanium fluoride solution on rat caries, in comparison with that of acidulated phosphate fluoride solution (APF). Eighteen-day-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly distributed among three groups. Each animal was infected with S. mutans GS-5 for three days and fed a cariogenic diet (Diet 2000 No. 3) during the experimental period. The first group received APF (0.9 % of F, pH 3.4), the second group received (NH
4)
2TiF
6 (0.9 % of F, pH 3.4), and the third group served as a control. Each animal was weighed, and given topical application of the solution once a week under anaesthesia. At 54, 68, 82 and 96 days of age, animals were killed, and caries prevalence was examined by assigning occlusal fissure lesions to 6 grades using a standardized photograph (x 50) of the rat jaw. Caries score (caries incidence and caries extent) were calculated from these data. The distributions of calcium, phosphorous, fluoride and titanium in enamel were determined by electron microprobe analysis.
Caries incidence was not clearly reduced in the fluoride groups compared with the control. However, significantly lower value of caries extent was found in the fluoride groups than in the control. The fluoride groups had very few serious grades of lesion, whereas the control had many collapsible lesions. There was no significant difference between the effect of APF and (NH
4)
2TiF
6 An enriched zone of fluoride and titanium was observed at the entrance of enamel fissures in the group treated with (NH
4)
2TiF
6, but at the bottom of enamel fissures, fluoride and titanium were difficult to detect. During the experimental period, the treatments did not affect the weight gains of the rats in any group. It is concluded that the topical application of (NH
4)
2TiF
6 leads to uptake of fluoride and titanium into the enamel surface
in vivo, and is as effective in preventing caries in rats as APF, especially in inhibiting caries progression.
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