In situ effect of titanium tetrafluoride varnish on enamel demineralization

• Published in: Brazilian oral research Vol. 31; p. e86
• Main Authors: Alexandria, Adílis Kalina, Nassur, Camila, Nóbrega, Carolina Bezerra Cavalcanti, Valença, Ana Maria Gondim, Rosalen, Pedro Luiz, Maia, Lucianne Cople
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Pesquisa Odontológica - SBPqO 06-11-2017; Sociedade Brasileira de Pesquisa Odontológica
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Biofilms; Cariostatic Agents - pharmacology; Cross-Over Studies; Dental Enamel - chemistry; Dental Enamel - drug effects; Dentistry; DENTISTRY, ORAL SURGERY & MEDICINE; Double-Blind Method; Fluorides; Fluorides - pharmacology; Fluorides, Topical - pharmacology; Hardness Tests; Humans; Materials Testing; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Reproducibility of Results; Sodium Fluoride - pharmacology; Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; Statistics, Nonparametric; Surface Properties; Time Factors; Titanium - pharmacology; Tooth Demineralization; Tooth Demineralization - prevention & control; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult; Tooth Demineralization; Biofilms; Fluorides
• ISSN: 1806-8324; 1807-3107; 1807-3107; 1806-8324
• DOI: 10.1590/1807-3107BOR-2017.vol31.0086

The effect of a 4% titanium tetrafluoride (TiF 4 ) varnish on enamel demineralization was evaluated. Twelve volunteers participated in this double-blind, randomized crossover study. Six enamel specimens were positioned in intraoral appliances throughout four treatment stages: 4% TiF 4 varnish (experimental varnish), 5% sodium fluoride (NaF) varnish (Duraphat ® ), placebo varnish, and negative control (deionized water). After 24 h, the varnishes were removed and plaques were allowed to accumulate. A 20% sucrose solution was dripped onto enamel blocks (10x/day). Enamel alterations were analyzed by surface microhardness (SMH), percentage of surface loss (%SML), cross-sectional microhardness (CSMH), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). Student's paired t-test was used for SMH analysis and repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) for %SML and CSMH (∆Z) analyses (p-value=0.05). The TiF 4 varnish group had lower %SML than the placebo and control groups (p=0.044 and p=0.003, respectively), thus showing its capacity to inhibit surface demineralization. TiF 4 and NaF varnishes demonstrated a protective effect against mineral loss on the enamel subsurface. Both were statistically different from the control group when CSMH was analyzed (p=0.000). A titanium dioxide film was observed on enamel surfaces of the TiF 4 group SEM images. EDS confirmed the presence of titanium in all TiF 4 samples. The 4% TiF 4 varnish is a promising compound capable of reacting with enamel to protect it against surface and subsurface demineralization.