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Aug. 20, 2003
Fluoride Treatments and Enamel Erosion
Effect of Topical Fluoride Treatments on the In Vitro Erosion of Enamel by Sweetened Beverages
Adam Quade, 14, of New Brighton, Minn.
Third Place, Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge, 2002
Project background: After hearing continued debate in the news about soda pop machines in schools and about the money schools receive for selling the sweetened beverages to students, Adam decided to focus his science project on enamel erosion, soda pop, and fluoride. He wanted to determine whether topical fluoride treatments are effective measures for reducing enamel erosion in teeth. He hypothesized that fluoride treatments would decrease enamel erosion and that fluoride varnish would be the most effective protection, followed by a rinse and fluoride toothpaste.
Tactics and results: Adam obtained 64 previously impacted molars from an oral surgeon. Because they were impacted, the molars had been unexposed to the oral environment. Using a fluoride varnish, a rinse, and a fluoride toothpaste, Adam applied treatments daily and immersed each tooth in 2 ounces of different soda beverages, juices, and bottled water. He also added ½ ml of simulated whole saliva as a bacterial source. Adam weighed, visually examined for decalcification, photographed, and x-rayed each tooth at the beginning of the experiment, at 3 weeks, and at 6 weeks.
He concluded that in this in vitro system, where the acid challenge is very severe, the topical fluoride treatments did reduce mineral loss and that indeed the varnish was most effective, followed by the rinse and the toothpaste.
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