Erosion-inhibiting potential of a stannous chloride-containing fluoride solution under acid flow conditions in vitro.

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to analyse the erosion-inhibiting potential of a single application of stannous chloride-containing fluoride solution on pellicle-covered enamel and dentine under constant acid flow conditions in vitro. DESIGN Bovine enamel (n=60) and dentine (n=60) samples were exposed 1h to the oral cavity of 4 healthy volunteers to allow for in situ pellicle formation. Pellicle-covered samples were randomly assigned to three groups (each n=20 enamel and n=20 dentine samples; 5 enamel and 5 dentine samples/volunteer) and treated once with a SnCl2/AmF/NaF (800 ppm Sn(II), 500 ppm F, pH 4.5) or a NaF solution (500 ppm F, pH 4.5) for 2 min or remained untreated (controls). Samples were eroded with hydrochloric acid (pH 2.6) in a small erosion chamber at 60 microl/min for 25 min. Calcium release into the acid was monitored in consecutive 30s intervals for 5 min, then at 1 min intervals up to a total erosion time of 25 min using the Arsenazo III procedure. Data were statistically analysed by random-effects linear models (p<0.05). RESULTS The stannous chloride-containing fluoride solution reduced calcium loss of enamel and dentine to up to 6 min and 3.5 min, respectively. Calcium loss (% of control) amounted from 24+/-7 (30s) up to 93+/-14 (6 min) in enamel and from 38+/-13 (30s) to 87+/-15 (3.5 min) in dentine. The sodium fluoride solution was unable to reduce enamel and dentine erosion at any time point. CONCLUSION A single application of a stannous chloride-containing fluoride solution reduced enamel and dentine erosion up to 6 min and 3.5 min of constant acid flow, respectively.