[Microscopic observation of the enamel microstructures of SD rats with different degrees of fluorosis]

Zhonghua Kou Qiang Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2021 Dec 9;56(12):1261-1266. doi: 10.3760/cma.j.cn112144-20210916-00414.
[Article in Chinese]

Abstract

Objective: To establish a dental fluorosis model of SD rats with various degrees, to observe the microstructures of enamel samples under scanning electron microscope and to clarify the changes of enamel microstructures with various degrees of dental fluorosis, so as to provide clinical reference for the treatment of patients with moderate and severe dental fluorosis. Methods: Thirty male SD rats (6 weeks of age) were randomly divided into 3 groups with 10 rats in each group. The control group was fed with deionized water without fluoride, the low fluoride group was fed with 50 mg/L NaF deionized water and the high fluoride group was fed with 100 mg/L NaF deionized water in order to establish the dental fluorosis model of rats. After feeding for 6 weeks, the rats were sacrificed and the mandibular incisor teeth were collected and recorded. The surface and sagittal plane of each tooth were observed by scanning electron microscopy and the enamel thickness was measured. Results: In the control group, the enamel color was brown yellow. Enamel color discoloration occurred both in low-fluoride group and high-fluoride group. The enamel color in low-fluoride group was mostly yellow and white striped while in high-fluoride group was mostly chalky white. Under electronic microscope, the enamel rods were alternately arranged and their structure was clear and plump in the control group. The enamel rods of moderate fluorosis were arranged in a straight orientation like tips of bamboo shoots. The enamel rods of severe fluorosis, however, became thinner and the tips of rods were broken. In the control group, sagittal images of enamel turned out to be a dense outer structure with clear boundaries among the inner. The structure of the middle layer was reticulated showing a clear boundary with middle and outer layers. The structure of enamel rods in the inner layers was arranged vertically and horizontally. In the moderate fluorosis group, the outer layer of the enamel became thinner and the middle layer disappeared although the boundary between the outer and middle layers was still clear. In the inner layer, the vertically arranged enamel rods seemed still clear, however the horizontal enamel rods disappeared. In the severe fluorosis group, the outer layer could not be traced. The middle layer was exposed to the air and the inner enamel rods contracted. The inner layers of the enamel had gradually become thinner with the development of the dental fluorosis. The thicknesses of inner layers in control, moderate and the severe groups were (180.71±7.01), (157.10±11.04) and (121.10±12.56) μm respectively. As for the thicknesses of the full layers in the above mentioned three groups, the same trend was observed. The thicknesses, in order of the severity of dental fluorosis, were (241.54±7.76), (207.42±14.36) and (143.79±14.60) μm. Conclusions: With the development of dental fluorosis, the outer enamel layers became thinner or disappeared and the inner enamel layers became thinner or lost its normal structure as well. It is highly recommended that the resin penetration could be used for the proper treatment of moderate and severe dental fluorosis and the strong bleaching and the micro-grinding should be used cautiously.

目的: 建立不同程度SD大鼠氟牙症模型,扫描电镜观察牙釉质的微观结构,明确不同程度氟牙症的牙釉质结构变化,为中、重度氟牙症的治疗提供临床参考。 方法: 选取30只雄性SD大鼠(6周龄),采用随机数字表法分为3组,每组10只,对照组使用不含氟去离子水喂养,低氟组和高氟组分别用质量浓度为50和100 mg/L的NaF去离子水喂养,建立大鼠氟牙症模型。饲养6周后取大鼠下颌切牙,记录各组大鼠牙齿情况,扫描电镜观察其表面及矢状面并进行牙釉质厚度测量。 结果: 对照组所有大鼠下颌切牙釉质均为棕黄色;低氟组多数呈黄白相间的条纹状;高氟组多数呈白垩色。电镜下正常组大鼠下颌切牙釉柱结构清晰饱满,呈编织状交错排列;中度氟牙症釉柱失去正常编织状结构,似笋尖样单向排列;重度氟牙症釉柱变细,大部分尖端折断;矢状面正常釉质外层结构致密,中间层呈网状,与内、外层界限清晰,内层釉柱结构清晰呈纵向和水平向排列;中度氟牙症外层变薄,中间层结构消失,与内、外层界限仍清晰,内层纵向釉柱清晰,水平向釉柱形态消失;重度氟牙症外层缺失,中间层暴露,内层两种釉柱均萎缩。内层釉质厚度在正常组[(180.71±7.01)μm]、中度氟牙症组[(157.10±11.04)μm]及重度氟牙症组[(121.10±12.56)μm]依次变薄。全层氟牙症釉质厚度在正常组[(241.54±7.76)μm]、中度氟牙症组[(207.42±14.36)μm]及重度氟牙症组[(143.79±14.60)μm]亦逐渐变薄。 结论: SD大鼠下颌切牙随氟牙症程度加重外层釉质变薄,甚至消失;内层釉质结构紊乱,釉质厚度变薄。建议中、重度氟牙症的临床治疗慎用强力漂白及微研磨,可采用无创性渗透树脂治疗。.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dental Enamel
  • Fluoride Poisoning*
  • Fluorides
  • Fluorosis, Dental*
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Substances

  • Fluorides