Assessment of Enamel Surface Microhardness with different Fluoride Varnishes-An In Vitro Study
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 31, 2026

Author Spotlight: Establishing an Accurate Microhardness Testing Protocol for Craniofacial Tissues
Published on: April 26, 2024
Sameer Punathil1, Civy V Pulayath2, Siraj P Ismail3
1Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Sree Anjaneya Institute of Dental Sciences, Calicut, Kerala, India, Phone: +919526227454,
Aim:
This study aimed to assess the microhardness of the enamel surface after fluoride varnish application.
Materials And Methods:
Thymol of 0.1% in distilled water was used to store the collected healthy sixty teeth. The samples were divided into three groups randomly as per the different applica -tion of fluoride varnish. Group A: Fluor protector varnish (FIV) application, group B: Duraphat varnish application and group C: Bifluorid 10 varnish application. The present study followed the pH cycling protocol. Microhardness tester was used to test the microhardness of enamel surface and was expressed as micro-hardness measurements of Vickers hardness number (VHN) which was performed at baseline, on the 3rd day andon 7th day.
Results:
At baseline, group A samples mean SMH value was 230.64 ± 12.32 which was slightly more than group B with 229.45 ± 10.22 and group C with 230.10 ± 11.45. There was no significant difference showed with the analysis of variance between the groups. On the 3rd day, there was a slight increase in the mean SMH in group A with 235.39 ± 6.44 and no significant difference between the groups was seen statistically. On the 7th day, the group A showed high SMH value of 262.20 ± 4.89 compared to other groups which didn't show a significantly high statistical difference.
Conclusion:
On conclusion, post-application of fluorprotector varnish showed higher enamel surface microhardness compared to Duraphat and Bifluorid 10 varnishes.
Clinical Significance:
In young children, fluoride varnishes are effectively used as a noninvasive, anti-caries agent in the treatment of initial caries. Therefore, in routine dental practice, the knowledge about different fluoride varnishes is of importance.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Methods for Studying Drug Absorption: In vitro
The diffusion cell method uses a two-compartment cell, including a donor compartment with the drug solution, which simulates the environment where the drug is applied, and a receptor compartment with a buffer solution, which simulates the environment...
Surface Tension and Surface Energy
Consider a beaker filled with liquid. The bulk molecules in the liquid experience equal attractive forces on all sides with the surrounding molecules. However, the surface molecules experience a net attractive force downward due to the bulk molecules. The surface of the liquid behaves like a stretched membrane,...
Wood Surfacing
The equipment used in the surfacing process is a plane equipped with rotating blades. This tool efficiently smoothens the wood surface and can...
Cell-surface Signaling
Area of a Surface of Revolution
Equipotential Surfaces and Conductors

