This study aimed at evaluating the effect of 1 and 4% titanium tetrafluoride (TiF4) gels, amine fluoride (AmF) 1 and 0.25% and a fluoride varnish (FP) on the prevention of dental erosion. Two experimental groups served as controls, one with no pretreatment and another one pretreated with a fluoride-free varnish (FP-blanco). Dental erosion was modelled using bovine enamel samples submitted to alternate cycles of acid exposure in citric acid and remineralization in artificial saliva. Calcium loss of all samples involved in the study was quantified by atomic absorption spectroscopy and erosion depths were estimated. Two samples of each experimental group were also analyzed by white light confocal microscopy. The cumulative erosion depth (in µm) after 72 min was: TiF4 gel 1% 8.29 ± 0.39; TiF4 gel 4% 8.27 ± 0.55; AmF 1% 8.69 ± 0.66; AmF 0.25% 8.86 ± 0.33; FP 3.43 ± 1.07; FP-blanco 14.86 ± 1.59 and control 9.77 ± 0.49. A statistically significant protective effect (p ≤ 0.001) was found only for the group pretreated with the fluoride varnish. Within the limitations of an in vitro study it may be concluded that topical applications of the fluoride varnish tested have a protective effect on the prevention of dental erosion.

Background/Aims: Stannous fluoride (SnF) has been suggested as a dental erosion-preventive agent. The aim of this single-centre, randomized, double-blind, in situ study was to evaluate the effect of toothpastes with SnF in the prevention of erosive enamel wear. Methods: A combined split-mouth (extra-oral water or toothpaste brushing) and crossover (type of toothpaste) set-up was used. Twelve volunteers wore palatal appliances containing human enamel samples. Three toothpastes were used, in three consecutive runs, in randomized order: two toothpastes containing SnF (coded M and PE) and one toothpaste containing only sodium fluoride (coded C). On day 1 of each run the appliances were worn for pellicle formation. On days 2–5 the samples were also brushed twice with a toothpaste-water slurry or only water (control). Erosion took place on days 2–5 extra-orally 3 times a day (5 min) in a citric acid solution (pH 2.3). Enamel wear depth was quantified by optical profilometry. The effect of toothpastes was tested using General Linear Modeling. Results: Average erosive wear depth of control samples was 23 µm. Both SnF toothpastes significantly reduced erosive wear: M by 34% (SD 39%) and PE by 26% (SD 25%). The control toothpaste reduced erosive wear non-significantly by 7% (SD 20%). Both SnF-containing toothpastes significantly reduced erosive wear compared to the sodium fluoride toothpaste. Conclusion: We conclude that SnF-containing toothpastes are able to reduce erosive tooth wear in situ.

It has been suggested that fluoride products with a protective mechanical component are advantageous in the prevention of erosive wear. The aim of this study was to evaluate in situ the effect of fluoride varnish (FV) in the prevention of wear due to erosion and combined erosion and toothbrush abrasion. Eleven volunteers wore for 3 weeks, during working hours, appliances containing 2 control and 2 FV-treated human enamel samples. Erosion took place extraorally 3 times a day (5 min) in the soft drink Sprite. At the end of each experimental day one control and one FV sample (C-er+abr and FV-er+abr) were brushed (5 s) with fluoridated dentrifice. The remaining control and FV sample (C-er and FV-er) were left unbrushed. Enamel volume loss was quantified by optical profilometry at day 5, 10 and 15. A statistically significant progression in enamel loss was found for the C-er, C-er+abr and FV-er+abr groups (p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively) but not for the FV-er group (p = 0.053). The values of cumulative normalized volume loss (×10⁸ µm) at day 15 were: C-er 5.53 ± 2.14, C-er+abr 5.70 ± 2.07, FV-er 0.79 ± 0.67 and FV-er+abr 2.76 ± 1.35. The FV-er and FV-er+abr groups showed significant lower volume loss than the C-er group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively) and the C-er+abr group (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). The results indicate that fluoride varnish is effective in the reduction of erosive wear.

Topical fluorides have been proposed for the prevention of erosive dental wear. This study evaluated the in vitro effect of a single professional application of 4% titanium tetrafluoride (TiF4), 1% amine fluoride (AmF) and 0.1% difluorosilane varnish (FV) in preventing wear due to combined erosion and brushing abrasion. One hundred and eight bovine enamel samples were used. Control groups were not pretreated with any product (C), pretreated with a fluoride-free varnish (FV-bl) or pretreated with fluoride varnish and subsequently submitted to varnish removal (FV-r). Wear was modeled by submitting the fluoride-treated and control groups to 3 cycles of the following regimens: erosion/remineralization (er/remin), abrasion/remineralization (abr/remin) or erosion/abrasion/remineralization (er/abr/remin). Erosion was simulated by immersion of the samples for 10 min in citric acid 50 mM (pH 3). Abrasion was carried out for 1 min (200 strokes, load 150 g) in a wear device. Remineralization (2 h artificial saliva) took place between the cycles. Two-way ANOVA showed that there was a significant interaction (p ≤ 0.001) between the fluoride treatments and the wear regimens. Under er/remin a significant wear protective effect was found for the FV, FV-r and FV-bl groups. Abr/remin resulted in some enamel loss for the TiF4 and AmF groups, but the amounts lost were not statistically significant (p = 0.185 and p = 1.000, respectively). Under er/abr/remin all products showed a significant protective effect, except for TiF4. It was concluded that FV and AmF protected bovine enamel against erosion followed by brushing abrasion in vitro.