Sound, human enamel slabs treated in vitro with (1) APF followed by SnF2, (2) DCPD followed by Basic Phosphate Fluoride (BPF) or (3) TiCl4 followed by APF were examined with the scanning electron microscope and electron microprobe prior to and after washing in an inorganic wash solution. APF/SnF2 deposited a dense, homogeneous coating which was resistant to washing. TiCI4 pretreatment resulted in enamel etching, and subsequent APF application resulted in a variable distribution of Ti and F. The deposited F appeared to be of a labile nature. DCPD pretreatment left the surface essentially intact, and BPF resulted in a uniform surface coating. Following the wash, the surface was covered with a lattice-like, crystalline network. These observations may help explain previous results regarding artificial caries-like lesion formation.
展开▼
