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Dental Fluoride: Common Practices

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For oral health professionals, administering and recommending fluoride is a common practice. Using fluoridated toothpaste as a preventive and controlling method for dental caries has been a common recommendation for over 50 years (Schemehorn, DiMarino, & Movahed, 2014, p.57). Oral health professionals and researchers have found that although the occurrence of dental caries is declining, dental fluorosis and other systemic effects are becoming a rising occurrence (p.57). Therefore, researchers have been looking for a way to improve the fluoride uptake without increasing the dosage of fluoride due to its systemic risks (p. 57). In this article, a study was conducted comparing various fluoride toothpastes and gels that are combined with different agents to enhance the uptake of fluoride without having to increase the dosage of fluoride (Schemehorn, DiMarino, & Movahed, 2014, p.58). The various fluoride combinations included amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), tri-calcium phosphate (TCP), and casein-phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP). This study was conducted on incipient lesions to see which combination had the best fluoride uptake and …show more content…

Due to ACP having a greater bioavalibility of calcium and phosphate, it is more soluble into the tooth enamel, which enhances the uptake of fluoride and aids in the enamel uptake to remineralize the enamel (p.59). The specific product that has this combination with successful results was the Enamelon Preventive Treatment Gel. This study has opened new doors and options for oral health care professionals. As patients continue to come in with incipient caries, the recommendation of fluoride alone is no longer the best option. Fluoride combined with ACP is the best for remineralization of the enamel with minimal systemic risk for the patient (p.

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