Influence of fluorine in mottled teeth on dental caries

SummarySome of the factors operative in suppressing rat caries have been tested in this experiment. By using animals in which the salivary glands have been removed it has been possible to test the relative effects of fluorine prenatally incorporated in the teeth. When the caries score of operated rats with mottled or fluorinized teeth are compared with that of nonfluorinized animals without glands there is a measurable reduction in caries. When the percentage of reduction is compared with the caries score of normal animals, however, there is evidence that the saliva offers greater protection than the fluorine in tooth substance.