Enhanced fluoride uptake by teeth through use of iontophoretic techniques.

The effects of electric currents on the uptake of fluoride ions by human teeth, in vitro were determined by measuring the change in fluoride ion concentration of the electrolyte in which teeth were subjected to the electrochemical treatment. There was an enhanced uptake when the gold electrode embedded in the tooth was polarized anodically. Evidence that the fluoride ions were taken upon by the teeth was shown by subsequent cathodic polarization of the gold electrode in a fluoride free electrolyte and by measurement of fluoride release into the solution.