Assessment of the Remineralizing Potential of Biomimetic Materials on Early Artificial Caries Lesions after 28 Days: An In Vitro Study

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the loss of mineral content in the enamel surface in early artificial lesions and to assess the remineralizing potential of different agents by means of SEM coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). The analysis was performed on the enamel of 36 molars divided into six equal groups, in which the experimental ones (3–6) were treated using remineralizing agents for a 28-day pH cycling protocol as follows: Group 1, sound enamel; Group 2, artificially demineralized enamel; Group 3, CPP-ACP treatment; Group 4, Zn-hydroxyapatite treatment; Group 5, NaF 5% treatment; and Group 6, F-ACP treatment. Surface morphologies and alterations in Ca/P ratio were evaluated using SEM-EDX and data underwent statistical analysis (p < 0.05). Compared with the sound enamel of Group 1, the SEM images of Group 2 clearly showed loss of integrity, minerals, and interprismatic substances. Groups 3–6 showed a structural reorganization of enamel prisms, interestingly comprising almost the entire enamel surface. Group 2 revealed highly significant differences of Ca/P ratios compared with other groups, while Groups 3–6 showed no differences with Group 1. In conclusion, all tested materials demonstrated a biomimetic ability in remineralizing lesions after 28 days of treatment.

Keywords

• enamel remineralization
• demineralization
• early enamel lesion
• SEM-EDX
• CPP-ACP
• nano-hydroxyapatite