The Influence of Topically Applied Fluorine on the Permeability of Enamel

Abstract

Expts. to test the effect of topical F application upon the permeability of enamel were carried out on 16 dogs. A 2%-4% NaF soln. was applied to the canines on one side. The canines of the other side were untreated to act as controls. The teeth were then exposed for 38-44 hrs. to a toxin-fructose mixture, where the toxin titer was 1:100,000 and the fructose concn. 20%. Penetration of toxin through the dental hard tissues were established by its presence in the pulp. The pulp tissue from F-treated and untreated teeth was ground up separately in mortars after addition of a little saline, and suspensions prepd. The suspensions were injd. into 8 mice, 4 of which were first immunized with tetanus antitoxin. All the non-immunized mice died in symptoms of tetanus, and it was thus established that the permeability of the enamel was not affected by treating the teeth with F.