Influence of fluoride on in vitro remineralization of artificial subsurface lesions determined with a sandwich technique.

Remineralization experiments of bovine enamel with subsurface lesions were carried out with the use of a sandwich technique. The remineralizing solutions contained no or 2 ppm fluoride added to the solution. The amount of remineralization was determined after remineralization periods up to 324 by means of quantitative microradiography. After 84 h the group with fluoride showed significantly (p less than 0.05) less remineralization than the nonfluoride group. This inhibition of fluoride on the remineralization may be explained by the inhibiting effect that fluoride at certain concentrations has on the crystal growth of apatites.