Erosive effects of different pediatric medicaments on primary teeth enamel with and without remineralizing agents

Abstract

Background Children with chronic diseases may require several liquid medications daily. As most of pediatric drugs are acidic in nature, dental erosion becomes a potential issue when medicines with prolonged oral clearance are taken for long term. The enamel of deciduous teeth is less calcified and porous which is more easily dissolved by acids. So, erosion can be a particular problem and easier to occur in primary teeth than in permanent teeth. Objectives Assess the erosive effects of pediatric medicaments on primary teeth enamel, and the remineralizing effect of Proshield varnish and MI varnish on demineralized enamel. Patients and methods This experimental controlled trial conducted on 70 extracted primary teeth divided into seven groups. The control group was exposed to artificial saliva. Three groups exposed to Probric syrup, one of them to assess the demineralization occurred in enamel surface, second one was treated first with Proshield and the third one was treated with MI varnish. The remaining three groups were exposed to Depakine syrup, one of them to assess the demineralization effects of the drug, the second one was treated with Proshield, and the third one was treated with MI varnish. Scanning is done to reveal surface changes occurred to the enamel surface and to assess how much the pediatric medicaments affected the enamel. Energy dispersive radiography analysis was done to accurately measure the percentage of elements by weight especially calcium and phosphate percentage. Results The study showed that both pediatric medicaments have erosive potential that led to surface changes and decrease in mineral content of the enamel. Both Proshield and MI varnishes have remineralizing effects on enamel and had decreased the effects of these medicaments but with different levels. Proshield varnish proved more remineralization efficacy with both medicaments. Conclusions Both Probric and Depakine syrups have erosive potential on primary teeth enamel. Proshield varnish showed better remineralization ability as compared to MI varnish.