Remineralization of initial carious lesions in deciduous enamel after application of dentifrices of different fluoride concentrations

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the remineralization potential of five dentifrices with different fluoride concentrations. Initial caries lesions were created in 72 cylindrical enamel blocks from deciduous teeth. The specimens were randomly distributed among six experimental groups corresponding to six experimental periods. Each of the six volunteers carried two deciduous enamel specimens fixed in an intraoral appliance for a period of 4 weeks. They brushed their teeth and the enamel blocks at least two times a day with dentifrices containing 0 ppm (period 1), 250 ppm (period 2), and 500 ppm fluoride (period 3), respectively. A second group of volunteers (n = 6) used dentifrices with a fluoride content of 0 ppm (period 4), 1,000 ppm (period 5), or 1,500 ppm (period 6). At the end of the respective period, the mineral content was determined by transversal microradiography (TMR). The use of dentifrices containing 500 ppm fluoride (38% MR), 1,000 ppm fluoride (42% MR), and 1,500 ppm fluoride (42% MR) resulted in a statistically significant higher mineral recovery compared to the control group (0 ppm fluoride). Mineral recovery was similar after use of dentifrices containing 0 and 250 ppm fluoride (24%; 25%). It is concluded that it is possible to remineralize initial carious lesions in deciduous enamel in a similar way as it has been described for enamel of permanent teeth

Relationship between nanohardness and mineral content of artificial carious enamel lesions

The aim of this study was to compare cross-sectional nanohardness, measured using an ultra-microindentation system, with mineral content, from transversal microradiography, of artificial enamel caries lesions. Sections (85 +/- 10 microm) from 16 bovine enamel samples with artificial caries were prepared. The mineral content and cross-sectional nanohardness at known depths from the surface were compared. Both methods showed lesion profiles with a surface layer. The determination of nanohardness seems limited to lesions with a mineral content >45 vol%. There was a moderate linear relationship between mineral content and the square root of nanohardness (R2 = 0.81). It was concluded that the conversion of cross-sectional hardness into mineral content remains questionable and cannot be recommended

Cerium chloride reduces enamel lesion initiation and progression in vitro

Aim: Determination of the potential of cerium chloride to reduce artificial carious mineral loss and lesion depth progression. Methods: A total of 160 enamel samples were prepared from 40 bovine lower central incisors. Crowns were sectioned into four pieces, embedded in acrylic resin, ground flat and allocated to eight groups (S1-S4 and D1-D4; n = 20). Specimens of groups D1-D4 were stored (for 7 days) in a demineralizing buffer solution to induce caries-like lesions. Afterwards, samples were treated for 30 s with one of the following solutions: placebo (S1 and D1), amine fluoride (S2 and D2), cerium chloride (S3 and D3) and a combination of fluoride and cerium chloride (S4 and D4). After another 7 (D1-D4) or 14 (S1-S4) days in demineralizing buffer solution, integrated mineral loss and lesion depth were determined by transversal microradiography and compared by Scheffé's post hoc tests. Results: In groups S1-S4, the highest values for integrated mineral loss and lesion depth were observed for group S1 (placebo), the lowest values for group S4. The results in groups S2-S4 were not significantly different. In groups D1-D4, the highest values for integrated mineral loss and lesion depth were observed for group D1 (placebo), the lowest values in groups D3 and D4. In group D2, integrated mineral loss and lesion depth were significantly lower as compared to D1, but significantly higher compared to groups D3 and D4. Conclusion: Cerium chloride and its combination with fluoride are able to significantly reduce carious mineral loss and the progression of lesion depth. © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel

Different protocols to produce artificial dentine carious lesions in vitro and in situ: hardness and mineral content correlation

This study compared dentine demineralization induced by in vitro and in situ models, and correlated dentine surface hardness (SH), cross-sectional hardness (CSH) and mineral content by transverse microradiography (TMR). Bovine dentine specimens (n = 15/group) were demineralized in vitro with the following: MC gel (6% carboxymethylcellulose gel and 0.1 M lactic acid, pH 5.0, 14 days); buffer I (0.05 M acetic acid solution with calcium, phosphate and fluoride, pH 4.5, 7 days); buffer II (0.05 M acetic acid solution with calcium and phosphate, pH 5.0, 7 days), and TEMDP (0.05 M lactic acid with calcium, phosphate and tetraethyl methyl diphosphonate, pH 5.0, 7 days). In an in situ study, 11 volunteers wore palatal appliances containing 2 bovine dentine specimens, protected with a plastic mesh to allow biofilm development. The volunteers dripped a 20% sucrose solution on each specimen 4 times a day for 14 days. In vitro and in situ lesions were analyzed using TMR and statistically compared by ANOVA. TMR and CSH/SH were submitted to regression and correlation analysis (p < 0.05). The in situ model produced a deep lesion with a high R value, but with a thin surface layer. Regarding the in vitro models, MC gel produced only a shallow lesion, while buffers I and II as well as TEMDP induced a pronounced subsurface lesion with deep demineralization. The relationship between CSH and TMR was weak and not linear. The artificial dentine carious lesions induced by the different models differed significantly, which in turn might influence further de- and remineralization processes. Hardness analysis should not be interpreted with respect to dentine mineral loss