In vivo uptake and retention of fluoride after a brief application of TiF4 to dentin

The purpose of this study was to examine the long-term retention of F and Ti in dentin after a brief application of 1% TiF4. Six facets of exposed dentin in each of four beagle dogs were treated for 10 sec or 1 min with a 1% solution of TiF4. Four control facets in a fifth dog were left untreated and extracted after 12 weeks. The TiF4-treated teeth were harvested after 4, 8, and 22 weeks and analyzed for F and Ti with an electron microprobe. The F concentrations in dentin surfaces of specimens retained in the mouth for 4, 8, and 22 weeks were after the 10-sec treatment 0.48% +/- 0.24, 0.51% +/- 0.20, and 0.56% +/- 0.20, respectively, and after the 1-min treatment 0.64% +/- 0.20, 0.66% +/- 0.18, and 0.71% +/- 0.19. High concentrations of Ti were found at the specimen surfaces in all groups. None of the control specimens showed F or Ti contents above the detection limits for the method used. The results showed that a very brief application of 1% TiF4 deposited high concentrations of F and Ti which were retained for at least 22 weeks.