Pharmacology · single question
Fluoride's primary anticaries mechanism includes:
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Correct answer: A. Decreasing the solubility of enamel by forming fluorapatite (lower calcium-phosphate solubility)
- A. Correct. Fluoride incorporates into hydroxyapatite to form fluorapatite, which is less soluble in acid — promoting remineralization and decreasing the solubility of the calcium-phosphate mineral. (It also inhibits bacterial enolase.)
- B. Fluoride does not work mainly by increasing salivary flow.
- C. It has some antibacterial/enzyme-inhibiting effect but is not a broad antibiotic.
- D. Secondary/tertiary dentin formation is a pulpal response, not fluoride's anticaries mechanism.