Original Article

The Effect of Silver Diamine Fluoride Versus Sodium Fluoride Varnish on the Microhardness of Demineralized Enamel: An In Vitro Study

Citation: Farhadian N, Farhadian M, Borjali M, Ghaderi E. The Effect of Silver Diamine Fluoride Versus Sodium Fluoride Varnish on the Microhardness of Demineralized Enamel: An In Vitro Study. Avicenna J Dent Res. 2020;12(1):13-18. doi: 10.34172/ajdr.2020.04.

Background

Highlights

• Sodium fluoride (NaF) and silver diamine fluoride can both remineralize early enamel lesion.

• Silver diamine fluoride has a higher remineralizing potential than NaF.

• Silver diamine fluoride can cause enamel discoloration.

Fixed orthodontic treatment has become an integral part of modern orthodontics, but it has been associated with certain side effects such as white spot lesions (WSLs) (1). The difficulties in performing oral hygiene procedures give rise to these lesions (2-4).

WSLs are defined as “subsurface enamel porosity” appearing as small lines around the brackets, with a negative impact on the esthetic outcome of orthodontic treatment which might progress into carious lesions (2,5). On average, WSLs are found in 15.5%‒40% of patients before orthodontic treatment and increases to 30‒70% during the treatment (5). After removal of fixed appliances, a considerable improvement in WSLs is seen during the first 6-24 months; however, in many cases, these lesions remain visible as a permanent enamel scar (1,4,5).

Fluoride is the most important element that increases the strength of the enamel structure, and based on a meta-analysis, fluoride varnish can heal post-orthodontic WSLs (1,6). Advantages of fluoride varnishes over other topical fluoride regimens include the protection of enamel in the absence of patient compliance and continuous fluoride release over a long period (5). Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) was introduced in Japan in the 1970s and cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2014 for the market. Silver acts as an antimicrobial agent and fluoride promotes remineralization. SDF reacts with calcium and phosphate ions and produces fluorohydroxyapatite (7-9).

Many studies demonstrated that SDF is effective in arresting dentin caries, but sometimes, treated teeth develop stains. The staining can be minimized by the application of potassium iodide solution after treatment without reducing the effect (10-15). Studies conducted on extracted teeth receiving semiannual applications of SDF have demonstrated its effectiveness in arresting lesions as well as higher fluoride uptake compared to fluoride varnish (7,8,13,16,17). A recent in vitro study conducted by Akyildiz and Sönmez revealed that SDF and sodium fluoride (NaF) varnish could both remineralize artificial enamel lesions, however, NaF varnish had a higher remineralizing potential (18).

The present in vitro study aimed to compare the effects of SDF and NaF varnish on the microhardness of artificial enamel lesions. Given its beneficial effects on the lesions, it can be used for further clinical trials in orthodontic patients.

Materials and Methods

A total of 60 human premolar teeth, with no caries, cracks, or hypoplastic lesions extracted for orthodontic reasons, were collected. They were disinfected by immersion in thymol solution 0.1% and then washed with saline. The roots of the teeth were cut 2 mm below the cementoenamel junction. The crowns were mounted on self-cure acrylic plates, with their buccal surface facing up (Figure 1).

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Figure 1.

our Experimental Groups of Teeth Mounted on Acrylic Plates with Different Colors (a: Control Group, b: Demineralized Enamel Group, c: Sodium Fluoride Varnish 5% Group, and d: Silver Diamine Fluoride 38% Group).

Figure 1.

our Experimental Groups of Teeth Mounted on Acrylic Plates with Different Colors (a: Control Group, b: Demineralized Enamel Group, c: Sodium Fluoride Varnish 5% Group, and d: Silver Diamine Fluoride 38% Group).

These teeth were randomly divided into four equal groups (15 teeth in each) as follows:

1. Group 1: the control group which remained intact with no intervention (mounted on yellow plates),

2. Group 2: only demineralizing solution was applied (mounted on blue plates),

3. Group 3: received NaF varnish 5% after demineralization process (mounted on red plates),

4. Group 4: received SDF solution 38% after the demineralization process (mounted on purple plates).

The teeth were brushed to remove the tissue remnants. All surfaces of teeth were covered with acid-resistant varnish except for a square area at the center of the buccal surface (2 mm*2 mm). The teeth in the group (1) were kept in artificial saliva (NaCl [400 mg/L], KCl [400 mg/L], CaCl2.H2O [795 mg/L], Na2H2PO4.H2O [690 mg/L], KSCN [300 mg/L], Na2S.9H2O [5 mg/L], Urea [1000 mg/L]) (19) with no intervention. All other teeth were immersed in demineralizing solution (calcium chloride [2.0 mmol/L], tri-sodium phosphate [2.0 mmol/L] in acetate buffer [75 mmol/L]) at 4.6 pH for 6 days, with daily refreshment of the solution to maintain the pH (20).

Then, the teeth in groups 2, 3, and 4 were washed with distilled water and air-dried. The teeth in group 2 were kept in artificial saliva in a separate container as group 1. The SDF solution 38% (w/v) (25% silver, 5.5% fluoride, and 8% ammonia) was made in a laboratory using hydrofluoric acid 48% (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany), silver nitrate (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany), and ammonia solution 25% (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany).

Groups 3 and 4 were treated with NaF varnish 5% (Duraphat®, Colgate, Sao Paulo) and SDF solution 38%, respectively. Then, they were wiped out with a cotton roll after 3 minutes and were kept in artificial saliva in separate containers.

All samples were incubated at 37°C for one month and brushed daily with a soft toothbrush. Artificial saliva was also replaced weekly. After one month, the teeth in groups 3 and 4 were washed with distilled water. Then, NaF varnish and SDF solution were reapplied respectively and the teeth were kept under the former conditions. One month later, the teeth were washed with saline and air dried.

In microhardness testing, an indentation is made on the specimen by a diamond indenter through the application of a load (21). The surface microhardness of each tooth was assessed at three points of the enamel surface, approximately 500 microns apart from each other (Figure 2), using Vickers microhardness tester (KOOPA MH4, Mazandaran, Iran) under a 0.2 kg load and dwell time of 10 seconds (Figure 3). The mean was recorded as the surface microhardness value (SMH) for each tooth. Then, the SMH values of the four experimental groups were compared.

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Figure 2.

The Effect of the Indenter on the Enamel.

Figure 2.

The Effect of the Indenter on the Enamel.

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Figure 3.

Vickers Microhardness Tester (KOOPA MH4, Mazandaran, Iran).

Figure 3.

Vickers Microhardness Tester (KOOPA MH4, Mazandaran, Iran).

Data were saved on an Excel spreadsheet, and statistics were calculated using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 21.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Kolmogorov-Smirnov test showed that surface microhardness of teeth in the four groups had a normal distribution.

The mean SMH values were compared between groups using one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test. The level of significance was set at 0.05.

Results

The descriptive results are demonstrated in Table 1. The results of ANOVA showed a significant difference among the four groups (P < 0.001) (Table 2).

There was a significant higher enamel microhardness in the control group compared with the demineralized enamel and NaF groups (P < 0.001) according to Tukey post hoc test, but it was not significant for the SDF group (P = 0.160). There was significantly higher enamel surface microhardness in NaF and SDF groups compared with the demineralized enamel group (P = 0.001, P < 0.001). Interestingly, there were significantly higher mean SMH values in the SDF group compared with the NaF group (P = 0.004) (Table 3).

A box plot has been created to compare the values between different experimental groups (Figure 4). The normal distribution was established in the control and NaF groups. The SDF group showed the highest dispersion of the data. Teeth treated with SDF showed enamel discoloration (grayish brown) a few days after the application of SDF. The discoloration was caused by the silver component of the SDF.

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Figure 4.

A Box Plot for the Comparison of the Values Between Different Experimental Groups.

Figure 4.

A Box Plot for the Comparison of the Values Between Different Experimental Groups.

Discussion

The present study assessed the effects of NaF varnish 5% and SDF solution 38% on the microhardness of demineralized enamel.Vickers microhardness test was used to evaluate remineralization as an indirect test that can measure the changes in surface structural strength. The average hardness value for enamel is in the range of 250 to 360 VHN (22).

There are various in vitro and in vivo studies about the treatment of enamel demineralization with NaF varnish, but the enamel remineralization potential of SDF has not been investigated much yet (8,18,23-25).

SDF can arrest caries and treat dentin hypersensitivity. In the treatment of exposed sensitive dentin, it forms a layer of silver-protein conjugates on the decayed surface of the exposed dentin and plugs the dentinal tubules. The first SDF material approved by the FDA was Advantage Arrest (Elevate Oral Care), for desensitizing cold-sensitive teeth (26). On the other hand, silver ions act directly against bacteria in lesions by breaking membranes, denaturing proteins, and inhibiting DNA replication (7,14,16). A recent study also showed the antifungal potency of SDF (27).

Gao et al and Hochli et al conducted two systematic reviews and based on the existing trials and deduced that 5% NaF varnish can remineralize early enamel caries (1,28).

Contreras et al (29) and Jabin et al (30) conducted two systematic review studies and assessed the effectiveness of SDF on carious dentin in primary teeth and permanent first molars. They concluded that the application of SDF is efficient and safe for the control of dental caries in primary teeth and permanent first molars.

Hendre et al conducted a systematic review of the effectiveness of SDF in the management of root caries in older adults. They assessed 3 randomized clinical trials from 2010 to 2016, all of which supported the effectiveness of SDF in root caries prevention and arrest (31).

Trieu et al conducted a systematic review of the dentine caries arrest capabilities of SDF and NaF. They assessed 6 randomized controlled trials from 2001 to 2018, and concluded that SDF was a more effective caries management reagent than NaF (32).

Zhao et al concluded in their literature review that SDF is a bactericidal agent and reduces the growth of cariogenic bacteria. It inhibits demineralization and promotes the remineralization of demineralized enamel and dentine (33).

Roberts et al conducted a systematic review to assess whether using potassium iodide after the application of SDF significantly reduces the staining of tooth structure. They concluded that although some studies reported positive effects, insufficient evidence exists supporting the benefits of potassium iodide on the tooth staining (34).

Yu et al assessed the remineralizing effect of the adjunctive application of SDF 38% and NaF varnish 5% on artificial enamel lesions. They allocated forty-eight demineralized enamel specimens to four groups. Group 1 received SDF 38% and NaF 5% (SDF + NaF), group 2 received SDF 38%, group 3 received NaF 5%, and group 4 received deionized water. The surface morphology, fluoride content of the specimens, lesion depth, and crystal characteristics were assessed. They concluded that SDF showed stronger remineralizing effects than NaF did but no significant difference was found between the SDF + NaF group and SDF group. This study revealed that the adjunctive application of SDF and NaF varnish had a similar remineralizing effect to SDF on enamel caries (35).

Akyildiz and Sönmez compared the remineralizing potential of NaF and SDF on artificial enamel lesions of human third molar teeth. They measured the Vickers microhardness values of specimens and concluded that NaF and SDF can both remineralize enamel caries but NaF is significantly more effective than SDF (18).

In the present study, NaF and SDF were both capable of remineralizing early enamel carious lesions of the premolar teeth, but SDF showed higher remineralizing potential and the teeth treated with SDF revealed higher surface microhardness which was comparable with sound enamel.

SDF is inexpensive and therefore affordable in most communities. The treatment procedure is simple and requires no expensive equipment or support infrastructure (10,11). SDF has a shelf life of 3 years unopened and its only contraindication is allergy to silver. The advantage of SDF in remineralization (annually or biannually) could be compromised by its potential for enamel discoloration, especially in esthetic zones.

Maintaining hygiene in non-esthetic posterior areas of the mouth is more difficult and especially after the removal of orthodontic appliances, demineralized lesions in these areas are prone to the progression of decay. Due to the better performance of SDF than NaF, which increased the hardness of white spots to the level of intact enamel, and its requirement for less frequent professional application (biannually) in high-risk cases than NaF (every 3 months), the use of SDF in these areas seems more advantageous.

Conclusions

NaF varnish 5% and SDF 38% can both remineralize early enamel lesion, but it seems that SDF has greater efficacy. SDF can cause enamel discoloration; therefore, using SDF is not appropriate in the esthetic zone.

Conflict of Interests Disclosures

The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this study.

Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of this work by the Vice-chancellor for Research and Technology, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, for financial support.

Ethical Statement

The project was found to be in accordance to the ethical principles and the national norms and standards for conducting medical research in Iran by the ethics committee of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences (approval ID: IR.UMSHA.REC.1397.781).

Authors’ Contribution

NF: conceived the ideas and methodology, collected the data, interpreted the data, led the writing and editing and final approval of manuscript. MF: analyzed the data, interpreted the data and final approval of manuscript. MB: conceived the ideas and methodology, collected the data, led the writing and editing and final approval of manuscript. EG: collected the data, led the writing and editing and final approval of manuscript.

Funding

This research was financially supported by Hamadan University of Medical Sciences (No. 9806124441).

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