Remineralization of Demineralized Enamel and Dentine Using 3 Dentifrices—An InVitro Study

Abstract

Objectives: To monitor the electrical resistance of artificially demineralized enamel and root dentine after exposure to different fluoridated dentifrices and, using transversal microradiography, to quantify remineralization. Materials and methods: This in-vitro blind investigation used 20 extracted teeth (four groups of five each). Each group was exposed to one test dentifrice [Colgate PreviDent (5000 ppm F), Colgate Winterfresh gel (1100 ppm F), Fluocaril Bi-Fluoré (2500 ppm F) and placebo (without fluoride)] three times daily for three minutes for 4 weeks. In between exposure to the test dentifrices, teeth were stored in a saliva storage solution. An Electrical Caries Monitor measured the electrical resistance at baseline and during the four-week test period at weekly intervals. The measurements were log transformed and Duncan’s multiple range test applied. Remineralization was quantified using transversal microradiography. Results: Log mean (SD) electronic carries monitor (ECM) measurements in enamel at baseline and after 4 weeks of exposure to the test dentifrices were 4.07(1.53) and 3.87(0.90) (Placebo-Fluocaril), 4.11(1.86) and 4.64(1.43) (Colgate Winterfresh gel), 4.81(0.9) and 4.21(1.20) (Fluocaril Bi-Fluoré), and 4.60(0.88) and 3.76(0.9) (Colgate PreviDent). Corresponding measurements in dentine were 2.13(0.89) and 3.06(0.87) (Placebo-Fluocaril), 1.87(0.63) and 2.88(1.32) (Colgate Winterfresh gel), 2.47(1.20) and 1.65(0.60) (Fluocaril), and 2.16(0.00), and 2.34(1.07) for Colgate PreviDent. Lesion depth (µm) after microradiography in enamel was 100.1 (Placebo), 50.6 (Colgate Winterfresh gel), and 110.2 (Fluocaril, and 97.1 (Colgate PreviDent), and corresponding values in dentine were 169.7, 154.8, 183.7, and 153.5. The correlation of ECM and microradiographic parameters was negative (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Exposure of artificially demineralized enamel and root dentine to fluoridated dentifrices and saliva storage solution resulted in remineralization as follows: Colgate Winterfresh > Colgate PreviDent > Placebo-Fluocaril > Fluocaril Bi-Fluoré. Remineralization in teeth of the Placebo dentifrice group may be attributed to the presence of calcium and phosphate ions in the saliva storage solution.