Abstract
Intraoral fluoride uptake produced by both systemic administration and topical rinsing was evaluated using two test regimens. Presoftened bovine enamel slabs were worn intraorally in a modified orthodontic appliance by two 23-year-old adults. The regimens consisted of: (a) a control in order to assess the residual activity of the fluoride ion in the mouth; (b) a 5-mg dose of fluoride administered in five 2.2-mg NaF-containing gelatin capsules which are swallowed, and (c) a fluoride mouthrinse containing 5 mg of fluoride in 1 liter of distilled water. The intraoral exposure of the enamel slabs for each regimen was 8 h. Measurable fluoride uptake by the enamel slabs was observed in all three regimens, with both treatment groups significantly different (p < 0.05) from the controls. At the 5 μm estimated depth from the surface of the enamel, the resulting fluoride levels (ppm) were (a) 288 ± 75, (b) 645 ± 97 and (c) 2,820 ± 394.