Occlusion of dentin tubules with antibacterial ammonium hexafluorosilicate solution for the prevention of dentin caries

Purpose: To evaluate the degree of penetration of an ammonium hexafluorosilicate [SiF: (NH₄)₂SiF₆] solution containing various antibacterial agents into dentin and the depth of dentin tubule occlusion by the precipitate. Methods: Various antibacterial SiF solutions were prepared with the addition to chlorhexidine (CHX), cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), isopropyl methylphenol (IPMP), or epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), respectively. Two types of dentin disks were prepared from extracted teeth. One was a dentin surface covered with a smear layer, and the other treated with EDTA for 2 minutes to remove the smear layer and open dentin tubules. Then, the disks were treated with SiF solution with or without antibacterial agents for 3 minutes. The dentin surface and a longitudinally divided surface were observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) immediately after SiF treatment and after immersion in synthetic saliva for 7 days. Results: SEM photographs demonstrated that dentin tubules after treatment with SiF were occluded homogeneously and similar to those on conventional SiF treatment regardless of the addition of an antibacterial agent. However, the depth of occlusion became significantly shallower when SiF was applied to dentin specimens covered with a smear layer.