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Protocols for minimizing artifacts in estimating dental fluoride uptake from F-varnishes
Robson de Sousa Ferreira1, Jaime Aparecido Cury1, Cínthia Pereira Machado Tabchoury2
1Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba, UNICAMP, Av. Limeira, 901 - Areião, Piracicaba, 13414-903, SP, Brazil.
Introduction:
Proper removal of fluoride varnish (FV) residue is essential to avoid interference in fluoride uptake measurements in research studies.
Methods:
This study evaluated five FV removal protocols applied to inert slabs (n = 8 per group): (I) scalpel blade, (II) acetone-soaked cotton swab, (III) combination of I and II, (IV) II plus 30-s acetone wash, and (V) plastic spatula + II + three 10-s vortexed acetone washes. A water-soluble fluoride gel served as control. Alkali-soluble residual contaminant fluoride (RCF) was quantified.
Results:
%RCF values were: I (3.35 ± 1.27)A, II (0.18 ± 0.20)B, III (0.10 ± 0.13)BC, IV (0.01 ± 0.01)C, V (0.03 ± 0.01)C, and control (0.02 ± 0.02)C.
Conclusion:
The combination of mechanical and chemical steps particularly with acetone and vortex washes minimize FV residues.
