Tooth wear, solubility and fluoride concentration of molar-tooth surfaces in rats maintained on simultaneous or separate intake of food and fluoridated drinking water.

Eighty rats, 20 days old, were fed a hard pellet diet and deionized or fluoridated (25 parts/10(6) F-) drinking water respectively for 40 days. Half were maintained on simultaneous food and water intake for 3 h, daily, and the remainder on separate intake of food for 3 h followed by drinking water for 3 h, daily. Scanning electron micrographs of the occlusal surface of right maxillary first molars were used for scoring wear. The mandibular and left maxillary molar surfaces were used for solubility and fluoride concentration determinations. Intake of food and water separately did not affect wear significantly, whereas solubility and fluoride concentration of the molar surfaces were significantly increased. Wear, solubility and fluoride of the molar surfaces respectively were highly significantly increased in the rats provided with fluoridated water. Increase in fluoride uptake is due in part at least to the increase in sites available for uptake due to tooth wear. Acid dissolution of worn tooth-surface enamel is greater than that of intact enamel.