Microradiogrphy assesment of unit-dose dispensing system fluoride varnish

ABSTRACT

Previous studies have shown the effect of using fluoride varnishes both in vivo and in vitro. Re-cently they became presented in different delivery forms. In this in vitro study we asses a new unit-dose delivery system fluoride varnish, comparing it with the standard tube delivery method, and a control group with no varnish application using micro-radiographic technique. Artificial enamel lesions were formed on a group of carefully selected teeth -following certain criteria- in which a window 1x4 mm was left exposed. After lesion formation, parts of the windows were covered by acid-resistant varnish to provide the starting characteristics of the lesions. Then teeth were divided into three groups Group I control group was exposed to a pH cycling for 7 days without any treatment, Group II was exposed to the same condition as group I with application of standard fluoride delivery system [tube], group III was exposed to the same condition as first group with the application of the unite-dose delivery system. In varnish treatment groups, varnishes were applied and left to dry for five minutes and left on the teeth for at least four hours in de-ionized water. Varnish was then removed by thorough brushing, and teeth went through the pH-cycling for 7 days. Then teeth were sectioned and examined using Micro-radiography. Results showed that the percentage change in lesion area AZ was 19.63 +/- 25.62, -5.62 +/- 18.1, , -18.08 +/- 38.61 for groups I, II, III respectively. The minus values indicate remineralization. Only unit-dose system was significantly different at p<0.05 from the control group when results was analyzed using ANOVA