Affiliation:
1. Unit of Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, 35121 Padua, Italy
2. Department of Clinical Sciences and Stomatology (DISCO), Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy
Abstract
The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effectiveness of highly concentrated fluoride products and remineralizing products (F-APC) in preventing erosive dental lesions in competitive swimming patients. A total of 48 teeth were extracted, preserved in saline solution and divided into three groups. In G1 (control group), each tooth was half-immersed in chlorinated pool water; in G2 (fluoride-treated group), after being totally immersed in chlorinated water, each tooth had half of its surface treated with a highly concentrated fluoride product once a week; in G3 (remineralization product-treated group), each tooth was totally immersed in chlorinated water and half of its surface was treated with a remineralizing product after each immersion. The study was conducted over a 4-week period, immersing the teeth for 4 h per day. In G1, statistically significant differences were observed in submerged versus non-submerged tooth surfaces at week 3 (T3) (p = 0.019) and week 4 (T4) (p = 0.0007), with four and eight surfaces showing erosive tooth wear (ETW), respectively. In G2, a difference was observed between fluoride-treated and non-fluoride-treated surfaces at T4 (p = 0.039), with three surfaces with ETW among the non-treated ones. In G3, the difference was observed between portions treated with F-APC and those not treated at T4 (p = 0.019), with four surfaces with ETW among the untreated ones. Chlorinated pool water is a potential erosive agent for teeth if water pH values reach a critical value. Treating the teeth surface with highly concentrated fluoride products, once a week for 5 min, and F-APC are effective in protecting teeth against tooth erosion.