Tin and fluoride as anti-erosive agents in enamel and dentine in vitro.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy of an experimental tin- and fluoride-containing mouth rinse on progression of erosion in enamel and dentine in vitro.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Human enamel and dentine specimens were subjected to a cyclic demineralization and remineralization procedure for 10 days, with six 5-min demineralization periods per day. Erosive demineralization was performed with 0.05 M citric acid (pH 2.3). Except in the negative control group, the specimens were treated for 2 min with mouth rinses after the first and sixth demineralizations. An experimental tin-containing fluoride mouth rinse [125 mg/kg F(-) (amine fluoride), 375 mg/kg F(-) (NaF), 800 mg/kg Sn(2+) (SnCl(2))] and an experimental sodium fluoride mouth rinse (500 mg/kg F(-)) were used (both pH 4.5). A commercially available, tin-containing mouth rinse served as a positive control (pH 4.2, 409 mg/kg Sn(2+), 250 mg/kg F(-)). Tissue loss was determined profilometrically.

RESULTS

The highest tissue loss was found in the negative control group, in both enamel and dentine. In enamel, the NaF solution showed almost no effect. Both tin-containing solutions significantly reduced tissue loss (positive control: 65%; 800 mg/kg Sn(2+): 78%; both p ≤ 0.001 compared to negative control). In dentine all mouth rinses significantly reduced tissue loss (positive control: 43%; 800 mg/kg Sn(2+): 53%; NaF: 40%; all p ≤ 0.001 compared to negative control).

CONCLUSIONS

In enamel, the efficacy of mouth rinses depended on the compound used; tin-containing preparations were notably effective. In dentine, however, reduction of substance loss was nearly the same in all treatment groups.