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Potential of 4 per cent silver fluoride to induce fluorosis in rats: Clinical implications
Author(s) -
Gotjamanos Theo,
Ma Philip
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
australian dental journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.701
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1834-7819
pISSN - 0045-0421
DOI - 10.1111/j.1834-7819.2000.tb00555.x
Subject(s) - dental fluorosis , dentistry , fluoride , medicine , molar , orthodontics , chemistry , inorganic chemistry
The Health Department in Western Australia uses a 40 per cent silver fluoride (AgF) solution for prevention and treatment of dental caries in children. Analysis of this solution has revealed high fluoride concentrations (75,000–120,000mg/L), raising concerns of potential toxicity and prompting investigation of clinical protocols utilizing lowstrength AgF in an animal model. A single topical application of 4 per cent AgF solution to Sprague‐Dawley rats resulted in moderate to severe localized fluorosis in 24 per cent of animals. In a second experiment, caries was induced in rats aged 19 days; six weeks later, between one‐four carious molar teeth from each rat were treated with 4 per cent AgF (atraumatic technique). A generalized form of fluorosis developed in the continually growing incisors of less than 10 per cent of animals which had one or two carious teeth treated, and in 70–90 per cent of rats which received AgF to either three or four carious teeth. These results confirm the potential of a 4 per cent AgF solution to induce fluorosis and support previous recommendations that AgF at its empirical concentration of 40 per cent should be withdrawn from clinical use.