Short communicationEffect of fluoride gels supplemented with sodium trimetaphosphate on enamel erosion and abrasion: In vitro study

ObjectiveThis in vitro study aims to evaluate the effect of low fluoride (F) gel associate sodium trimetaphosphate (TMP) on erosion with or without abrasion.DesignEnamel blocks (4 mm × 4 mm) selected through surface hardness (SH) is divided into five groups (n = 12): gel without F and TMP (placebo), gel containing 4500 ppm F (4500), gel containing 4500 ppm F plus TMP5% (4500 TMP5%), gel containing 9000 ppm F (9000), and gel containing 12,300 ppm F (acid gel). Those groups were additionally subdivided into conditions of erosion (Ero) and of erosion plus abrasion (Ero/Abra). The blocks have undergone a single application of gel on the first day of the study. The erosion challenge was produced by Sprite Zero® for five minutes four times a day and abrasion was carried out by machine brushing for 15 s. After the challenges, the surface hardness (%SH), wear and cross-sectional hardness (ΔKHN) were analyzed. The data were analyzed using a 2-way ANOVA test followed by a Student-Newman-Keuls (p < 0.05).ResultsLower values of %SH, wear and ΔKHN were observed for erosion challenge (p < 0.001). The %SH was lower in groups treated with fluoride gels, differing in the placebo (p < 0.05). With addition of TMP to the gel 4500, enamel wear was lower when compared with another groups (p < 0.05).ConclusionIn vitro conditions, the 4500 5%TMP gel showed greatest effect against erosion and erosion/abrasion.