Biomaterial Database

Enamel biopsy results of children receiving fluoride tablets. 1977

R J Shern, and W S Driscoll, and D C Korts

This study measured the fluoride in tooth enamel of 338 schoolchildren after daily use of acidulated phosphate-fluoride (APF) tablets, and investigated the relationship between observed amounts of enamel fluoride and incidence of caries. Randomly selected study groups received under supervision either one placebo tablet, one APF tablet containing 1 mg fluoride, or 2 APF tablets (3 hours apart) each school day. An abrasive enamel-type biopsy of a maxillary central incisor was taken 30 months after the start of fluoride tablet treatments at the time of the follow-up examinations. Mean fluoride levels in the biopsied enamel from each of the three groups were similar despite a significant restriction in caries in the group receiving two APF tablets per day. These findings suggest that fluoride can restrict dental caries by some mechanism other than fluoride uptake in the enamel.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010919	Placebos	Any dummy medication or treatment. Although placebos originally were medicinal preparations having no specific pharmacological activity against a targeted condition, the concept has been extended to include treatments or procedures, especially those administered to control groups in clinical trials in order to provide baseline measurements for the experimental protocol.	Sham Treatment
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D003731	Dental Caries	Localized destruction of the tooth surface initiated by decalcification of the enamel followed by enzymatic lysis of organic structures and leading to cavity formation. If left unchecked, the cavity may penetrate the enamel and dentin and reach the pulp.	Caries, Dental,Carious Lesions,Dental Cavities,Dental Cavity,Dental Decay,Dental White Spots,Carious Dentin,Decay, Dental,Dental White Spot,White Spot, Dental,White Spots, Dental,Carious Dentins,Carious Lesion,Cavities, Dental,Cavity, Dental,Dentin, Carious,Dentins, Carious,Lesion, Carious,Lesions, Carious,Spot, Dental White,Spots, Dental White
D003743	Dental Enamel	A hard thin translucent layer of calcified substance which envelops and protects the dentin of the crown of the tooth. It is the hardest substance in the body and is almost entirely composed of calcium salts. Under the microscope, it is composed of thin rods (enamel prisms) held together by cementing substance, and surrounded by an enamel sheath. (From Jablonski, Dictionary of Dentistry, 1992, p286)	Enamel,Enamel Cuticle,Dental Enamels,Enamel, Dental,Enamels, Dental,Cuticle, Enamel,Cuticles, Enamel,Enamel Cuticles,Enamels
D005459	Fluorides	Inorganic salts of hydrofluoric acid, HF, in which the fluorine atom is in the -1 oxidation state. (McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 4th ed) Sodium and stannous salts are commonly used in dentifrices.	Fluoride
D005500	Follow-Up Studies	Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease.	Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000149	Acidulated Phosphate Fluoride	A sodium fluoride solution, paste or powder, which has been acidulated to pH 3 to 4 and buffered with a phosphate. It is used in the prevention of dental caries.	Phosphate Fluoride, Acidulated,Acid Phosphate Fluoride,Fluoride, Acid Phosphate,Fluoride, Acidulated Phosphate
D001706	Biopsy	Removal and pathologic examination of specimens from the living body.	Biopsies
D013607	Tablets	Solid dosage forms, of varying weight, size, and shape, which may be molded or compressed, and which contain a medicinal substance in pure or diluted form. (Dorland, 28th ed)	Tablet