The growth and dissolution of sodium fluoride hopper crystalsWhy Is This Important?

Abstract

Background: Caries is still prevalent despite the current understanding and use of fluoride. Faster-dissolving crystals of sodium fluoride (NaF) in a fluoride treatment could improve the efficacy of current preventative approaches. Methods: In this study, crystals of NaF with a high surface area-to-volume ratio were prepared by adding an aqueous solution of NaF to an ethanol-water antisolvent mixture. Dissolution of these high surface area to volume crystals was measured using a conductivity probe. Results: Key variables in the preparation of hopper crystals included the amount of water in the antisolvent, the ratio of NaF solution to antisolvent, and the rate of stirring. The dissolution rate of these crystals was significantly greater than NaF crystals produced without a hopper morphology. Conclusions: Including NaF hopper crystals in fluoride treatments could increase the bioavailability of fluoride from a fluoride treatment and potentially improve the remineralization of enamel.

Keywords

• Caries
• fluoride
• fluoridation
• hopper crystals
• remineralization