Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of fluoride varnish on prevention of enamel demineralization. Eighty bovine enamel blocks were divided randomly into 4 groups of 20 specimens: Group I served as the control with no topical application of fluoride. Group II was treated with APF gel for 4 minutes. Group III was treated with Fluor $Protector^{(R)}$. Group IVV was treated with $CavityShield^{TM}$. After 24 hours of treatment, samples were brushed with a soft bristled tooth brush to stimulate normal mechanical wear of varnish. Early caries lesions were produced by placing each specimen into demineralization solution at pH 4.0 for 48 hours. Then the optical density of the lesions was measured by light fluorescence induced by plasma light and the surface microhardness were measured by the vicker's hardness test. The results were as follows: 1. The optical densities of group III, IV were significantly higher than that of group II, but no significant difference was noted between group III and IV. 2. The surface microhardness of group IV was the highest, followed by group III, II, and I(p<0.05). 3. There were no significant differences between group III and IV in optical density. However, the surface microhardness of group IV was significantly higher than that of group III. The results of present study indicate that the fluoride varnish is more effective than APF gel for prevention of dental caries.

본 연구의 목적은 법랑질 시편에 수종의 불소 제재를 도포한 후 우식 예방 효과를 광밀도 및 미세경도 측정을 통해 평가하는 것이다. 소의 절치를 이용하여 80개의 법랑질 시편을 제작하고 각 군당 20개씩, 네 군으로 나누었다. I군은 대조군으로서 아무런 처치도 하지 않았고 II군은 acidulated phosphate fluoride(APF) gel(60 seconds $taste^{(R)}$, PASCAL, USA)을 4분간 적용한 후 수세하였다. III군은 Fluor $Protector^{(R)}$(Ivoclar Vivadent, Liechtenstein)를, IV군은 $CavityShield^{TM}$(Omnii Pharmaceuticals, USA)를 1분간 도포하고 증류수에 보관한 뒤 24시간 후 부드러운 모를 가진 칫솔을 이용하여 칫솔질하였다. 각 시편을 인공우식용액에 48시간동안 침잠시켜 인공우식병소를 유발한 후 광밀도를 컴퓨터 영상분석 프로그램으로 분석하고 표면미세경도를 측정하여 다음의 결과를 얻었다. 1. 광밀도는 APF gel을 도포한 II군에 비해 불소 바니쉬를 도포한 III, IV군이 높았으나(p<0.05) III군과 IV군 사이의 유의한 차이는 없었다. 2. 표면미세경도는 IV군, III군, II군, I군의 순으로 높았다(p<0.05). 3. $CavityShield^{TM}$를 도포한 IV군과 Fluor $Protector^{(R)}$를 도포한 III군은 광밀도에서는 유의한 차이가 없었으나 표면 미세경도는 IV군이 III군보다 유의하게 높았다. 이상의 결과를 종합해 볼 때 불소 바니쉬가 APF gel에 비해 법랑질 탈회 억제 효과가 우수한 것으로 나타났다. 임상적용의 용이성과 안전성을 고려할 때 불소 바니쉬의 사용이 영유아나 장애인에게 유용할 것으로 사료된다.

Keywords

• Fluoride varnish;
• Acidulated phosphate fluoride gel;
• Light fluorescence;
• Microhardness

• 불소 바니쉬;
• 형광효과;
• 미세경도;