[Recovery of fluoride orally on the acid-etched tooth surface]

There are many reports concerning the recovery phenomenon of acid-etched enamel surfaces of teeth. Many studies of surface hardness, acid resistant properties, radiolucency, and surface morphology suggest that orally the acid-etched enamel reverts to a state nearly similar to that of the intact enamel before the acid etching. This study was conducted in order to verify the existence of the recovery phenomenon of fluoride on acid-etched enamel, because the surface layer of a high fluoride concentration is removed from the surface enamel by the acid etching. The deciduous upper central incisors of both sides were etched with phosphoric acid. The fluoride content of one incisor was measured immediately after the etching and that of the opposite incisor was also measured in vivo after 4 weeks, during which period no special fluoride was used. The fluoride content of the tooth surface in the mouth after 4 weeks significantly increased by about 50 ppm, when compared to that immediately after the acid etching. No significant relationship was found between the fluoride increase and the fluoride concentration of the patients' saliva and drinking water which were the probable supply sources of fluoride for the teeth. No relationship was found between the fluoride increase and the number of second deciduous molars with defects or fillings, which was counted as a measure of the patient's susceptibility to caries.