Acid resistance of enamel exposed to fluoride-containing orthodontic cements

In a previous study enamel fluoride uptake from fluoride-containing orthodontic cements was evaluated after a 21-day period. The enamel fluoride uptake from a zinc phosphate cement (A), a zinc phosphate cement containing 5 per cent stannous fluoride by weight (B), and a silicophosphate cement (C) was compared. The results indicated that there was a net loss of fluoride from enamel beneath the orthodontic bands cemented with A while the enamel beneath B and C acquired significant amounts of fluoride. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate enamel fluoride uptake after 12 weeks and the effect of the fluoride uptake or loss by the enamel on acid resistance. Five teeth each had bands cemented with cements A, B and C, respectively, and were individually suspended in synthetic saliva for 12 weeks at 37 degrees C. Following this period the bands were removed, the cements were carefully cleaned off the teeth, and the crowns of the teeth were individually suspended in a lactic acid buffer at pH 4 for 4 weeks. Each tooth crown was then sectioned longitudinally and examined microradiographically to study the degree of enamel demineralization. Characteristic subsurface enamel carieslike lesions were noted on all the specimens studied. The carieslike lesions in the enamel exposed to the fluoride-containing cements were considerably reduced. The enamel which had acquired fluoride from the fluoride-containing cements was apparently more resistant to artificial caries attack.