Theobromine Effects on Enamel Surface Microhardness: In Vitro

Abstract

Dental caries is still a dental health problem in Indonesia. Fluoride, one of the dental caries prevention material, but its safety and the danger of fluorosis is still debated. Theobromine is an alkaloid compound contained in cocoa beans. Theobromine is believed to increase enamel microhardness with mineral changes in the enamel superficial layer. Objectives: To determine the influence of theobromine on the enamel surface microhardness. Methods: This study used 40 premolar tooth crown pieces that were embedded in epoxy resin. Furthermore specimens were randomly divided into 4 groups, which were control (distilled water), theobromine 100 mg/L (T100), theobromine 500 mg/L (T500) and theobromine 1000 mg/L (T1000). Specimens were immersed for 15 minutes and microhardness test was performed using Knoop microhardness tester. Results: Increasing enamel microhardness was observed after treatment with four different theobromine concentrations. The highest icreased of enamel microhardness was shown in T1000 group and difference compared to other groups were statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion: theobromine is a potential dental caries prevention material due to its effect in improving the microhardness of tooth enamel.

Keywords

• enamel
• surface microhardness
• theobromine