ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of penetrating resin and fluoride on early enamel caries. Methods Sixty intact bovine incisors were immersed in demineralized solution for 24 hours to make bovine incisor enamel caries.The specimens were divided into four groups(n=15 for each group)according to the treatment methods:control group (CON)-immersion in artificial saliva, DF group-immersion in 0.05% fluoride solution daily, WF group-2% fluoride gel weekly and IC group-resin infiltration.After processing for four and eighe weeks,the microhardness of the surface of each group was measured.After the treatment for four weeks,the depth of penetration and the microhardness of the samples were measured. After 8-week treatment, all samples were reintroduced into the demineralized solution for 24 hours and the microhardness of the samples was measured again.Results Results of microhardness assessment showed that there were no significant differences in baseline values(after white spots)between four groups(P>0.05).After treatment for four weeks the microhardness value reached the peak in IC group. After treatment for eight weeks the microhardness values reached the peak in DF group and WF group.The values of microhardness were significantly higher at different time points in IC group than those of other groups(P<0.05).After 4-week treatment,the percentages of penetration depth were significantly higher in DF,WF and IC groups than those of control group(P<0.01).The penetration depth was significantly higher in IC group than that of DF group and WF group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the penetration depth between DF group and WF group(P>0.05).Conclusion For the early enamel caries penetration resin,the penetration percentage is significantly higher than the fluoride treatment.