Rodent dental fluorosis model: Extraction of enamel organ from rat incisors

Abstract

Chronic fluoride overexposure can cause dental fluorosis. Dental fluorosis is characterized by porous and soft enamel that is vulnerable to erosion and decay. Animal models often contribute to clinical applications by addressing pathogenic questions of disease. To study dental fluorosis, rodent models have been employed because rodent incisors erupt continuously and every stage of enamel development is present along the length of the rodent incisor. Here we present a protocol to induce dental fluorosis in mouse and rat and describe the procedure for extraction of stage specific enamel organ from rat mandibular incisors.