In vitro caries‐preventive effect of a mineralization‐promoting peptide combined with fluoride gel on sound primary teeth

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundMineralization‐promoting peptide‐3 (MPP3) is a new biomimetic remineralization agent.AimTo assess the remineralization efficiency of MPP3, either alone or in combination with fluoride gel.DesignThe samples were divided into four groups: control, 1.23% fluoride gel, 10% MPP3 gel, and 1.23% fluoride gel + 10% MPP3. Following the application of remineralization agents (4 min), the samples remained in a pH‐cycling model (37°C, 4 weeks). Microhardness, microcomputed tomography (micro‐CT), polarized light microscopy (PLM), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) analysis were conducted. RM‐ANOVA, one‐way ANOVA, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were used for statistical analysis, and a significance level of p < .05 was employed.ResultsMineralization‐promoting peptide 3 and fluoride gel + MPP3 increased the microhardness of the enamel compared with initial values in each group (p < .05). Mineralization‐promoting peptide 3 successfully maintained the mineral density of enamel, although the cariogenic pH‐cycling and PLM results indicated that the lesion depth (μm) was significantly lower in the fluoride gel + MPP3 group (27.0336 ± 12.53650) than in the control group (37.3907 ± 12.76002, p < .05).ConclusionThe combined use of MPP3 with fluoride gel enhanced the caries‐protective and mineralization‐promoting effects of fluoride. Mineralization‐promoting peptide 3 may be a potential agent that can be employed to improve the physical properties of enamel.