Experimental Dentifrice Remineralization/Fluoride Uptake in an in Situ Model

Topical fluorides have been proven to be clinically effective in the prevention of dental caries. It is generally agreed that anti-caries effect of fluoride (F) is mainly by decreasing the rate of enamel demineralization and enhancing the rate of enamel remineralization. An in-situ Surface Micro-hardness (SMH) test is widely used to evaluate enamel demineralization and remineralization during the caries process. Determination of fluoride uptake in-situ also provides better estimation of true fluoride bioavailability of fluoride dentifrice products. In this study, an in-situ remineralization fluoride uptake model will be used to compare the efficacy of experimental dentifrice with a marketed dentifrice and placebo dentifrice. Participants wore partial dentures containing two partially demineralized enamel specimens for two weeks- 24 hours per day, except when brushing (twice daily) with test dentifrice. Following each treatment period, the enamel specimens were analyzed for SMH recovery and fluoride uptake through microdrill enamel biopsy technique.