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Distribution of fluoride in human dental calculus
H Okumura1, H Nakagaki, K Kato
1Department of Preventive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Aichi-Gakuin University, Nagoya, Japan.
Abstract:
The distribution of fluoride in human dental calculus was investigated using a mechanical sampling technique and the fluoride electrode. The fluoride concentrations were highest at the outer surface of dental calculus and, then fell to a plateau for the interior of the calculus, rising again as the tooth surface was approached. The coefficient of variation of fluoride concentration was significantly greater in the sub- than in the supragingival calculus (p < 0.01). The supragingival calculus thus tended to show a smoother distribution profile for fluoride than the subgingival calculus. Total fluoride, average fluoride, and maximum fluoride concentrations were not significantly different in supra- and subgingival calculus. No significant different were observed between males and females.