MFP versus stannous fluoride mouthrinses for prevention of decalcification in orthodontic patients

Twenty-two orthodontic patients in the eleven to fifteen-year age-group participated in a one-year fluoride rinsing program. A 0.1 percent SnF2 solution was compared to a MFP solution containing an equivalent amount of fluoride. A laboratory study evaluated the enamel solubility reducing capacities of the two solutions. Enamel solubility reduction by a two-minute treatment with 0.1 percent SnF2 was 77.8 percent; that for MFP solution was only 13.1 percent. Rinsing daily with SnF2 prevented decalcification completely in twelve patients; two of ten patients rinsing with MFP developed new decalcification during orthodontic treatment. Thus, SnF2 was more effective than MFP in both the laboratory and clinical phases of the study. These results support the requirement for frequent applications, if patients are at advanced risk, and suggest that the method of treatment is at least as important as the choice of specific fluoride.