Improved mineralization of dental enamel by electrokinetic delivery of F− and Ca2+ ions

Abstract

This in vitro study evaluated the effects of the infiltration of F- and Ca2+ ions into human enamel by electrokinetic flow (EKF) on the enamel microhardness and F- content. Sound human enamel ground sections of unerupted third molars were infiltrated with de-ionized water by EKF and with F- ion by EKF respectively. All samples were submitted to two successive transverse acid-etch biopsies (etching times of 30 s and 20 min) to quantify F- ion infiltrated deep into enamel. Remarkably, sound enamel showed a large increase in microhardness (MH) after infiltration of NaF (p < 0.00001) and CaCl2 (p = 0.013) by EKF. Additionally, NaF-EKF increased the remineralization in the lesion body of artificial enamel caries lesions compared to controls (p < 0.01). With the enamel biopsy technique, at both etching times, more F- ions were found in the EKF-treated group than the control group (p << 0.05), and more fluoride was extracted from deeper biopsies in the NaF-EKF group. In conclusion, our results show that EKF treatment is superior in transporting Ca2+ and F− ions into sound enamel when compared to molecular diffusion, enhancing both the mineralization of sound enamel and the remineralization of artificial enamel caries.

Effect of Calcium Supplementation and TMEM16A Inhibition on Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Induced by Dental Fluorosis in Mice

“…Subsequent investigations have demonstrated that following Ca 2+ supplementation, Ca 2+ binds with F − to form insoluble CaF 2 in the gastrointestinal tract or bloodstream. This process reduces the concentration of free F − and facilitates the normal progression of enamel mineralization [25,26]. Additionally, research by Yu et al [27] revealed that, in rats subjected to excessive fluoride intake, both blood and bone fluoride levels increased over time in groups treated with low calcium and normal calcium.…”