Comparative in vitro study regarding the effect of 2% and 6% titanium tetrafluoride on demineralized human enamel

Abstract

Background: Dental caries is the most common disease of the childhood and adulthood where the mineral contents of the enamel of the teeth begin to lose due to acids attacks by demineralization process. It can be prevented by application of fluoride that increased the mineral content of the enamel and made it highly resistant to acid demineralization. Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the effects of titanium tetrafluoride (TiF4) in different concentrations and frequencies on surface microstructure and chemical structure of artificially demineralized enamel. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 35 premolar teeth: seven teeth randomly selected remained sound (five for energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis and two for scan electronic microscopy, whereas the remaining 28 teeth were divided into four treatment groups (n = 7): (1) control negative (deionized water), (2) control positive (acidulated phosphate fluoride gel), (3) 6% TiF4 solution once daily, (4) 2% TiF4 solution three times daily. Chemical structure and surface microstructure analyses were made for sound, after demineralization then after treatments. Results: The fluoride content was greater in 6% TiF4, whereas the calcium content was greater in control positive followed by 6% TiF4 then 2% TiF4 groups. Surface microstructure revealed uniform, smooth, glaze-like surface with no irregularities in 6% TiF4 while localized areas of glaze-like depositions were noted in 2% TiF4. Conclusions: The TiF4 showed better minerals contents and uniform surface in its higher concentration and the frequency of applications was not important as concentration.

Keywords

• demineralization
• enamel
• tif4
• fluoride
• calcium