ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This in vitro study aimed to characterize the superficial and subsurface morphology of dental enamel treated with fluoridated gels containing different biomimetic compounds after erosive challenge. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bovine incisor teeth were sectioned to obtain enamel blocks (4 mm × 4 mm × 6 mm; n = 5) that were demineralized to create an artificial caries lesion and treated by pH cycling interspersed with exposure to fluoridated toothpaste slurries under agitation. During pH cycling (demineralization and remineralization for 2 and 22 hours, respectively) for 6 days, the enamel blocks were exposed to toothpaste slurries under agitation with one of the dental gels: Regenerate Enamel Science (NR-5 technology), Daily Regenerator Dental Clean (REFIX technology), and Sensodyne Repair & Protect (Novamin technology). The enamel blocks were subjected to an erosive challenge, immersed in 50% citric acid for 2 minutes, and then washed with plenty of distilled water. The surface and cross-sectional micromorphology were assessed using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The elemental analyses (weight percentage) were determined with an energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). RESULTS: Enamel treated with the product containing REFIX technology presented a smoother surface morphology compared to the other treatments. The higher resistance to the erosive challenge can be attributed to a silicon-enriched mineral layer formed on the enamel induced by the REFIX-based toothpaste. This was not observed in the specimens treated with the other technology-containing toothpastes. CONCLUSION: The REFIX technology seemed to be the most promising compared to the Novamin and NR-5 technologies. In addition to forming a surface mineralized layer, the enamel treated with REFIX technology associated with the pH cycling resisted a subsequent erosive challenge.
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the influence of treatment time on the remineralization performance of nanoencapsulated fluoride dentifrices on initial carious lesions. Ninety-six human enamel samples were allocated to eight groups (n = 12): 50% NanoF + 50% free NaF, 100% NanoF, 100% NaF (positive control), and placebo (negative control), using two different treatment times (one and five minutes) for each dentifrice tested. After the carious lesion induction, the specimens were submitted to a pH remineralizing cycling model for seven days. Surface microhardness was measured before and after carious lesion induction and after treatment. The percentage of surface remineralization was calculated for each study time. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and ANOVA repeated-measures tests followed by the Bonferroni correction (p < 0.05). Remineralization differences were observed in the dentifrices analyzed according to the treatment time used. NanoF formulations with 50% (one-min treatment) and 100% (five-min treatment) promoted significant remineralization of enamel after the caries challenge when compared to the placebo dentifrice (p < 0.05). Thus, time was considered an important factor for the fluoride release system. Nanotechnology can be a promising system for caries remineralization as it makes fluoride available on the dental surface for a longer time.
RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo in vitro foi de avaliar a influencia do tempo de tratamento no desempenho de dentifrícios fluoretados nano-encapsulados na remineralizagao de lesoes cariosas iniciáis. Noventa e seis amostras de esmalte humano foram divididas em oito grupos (n = 12): 50% NanoF + 50% NaF livre, 100% NanoF, 100% NaF (controle positivo) e Placebo (controle negativo) com dois tempos diferentes (um e cinco minutos). Após a indugao da lesao cariosa, os espécimes foram submetidos a um modelo de ciclagem de pH por sete dias. A microdureza superficial foi medida antes e após a indugao da lesao cariosa e após o tratamento. O percentual de remineralizagao superficial foi calculado para cada tempo de estudo. Os dados foram analisados pelo ANOVA e ANOVA de medidas repetidas, seguida de Bonferroni (p <0,05). Diferengas de remineralizagao foram observadas nos dentifrícios de acordo com o tempo de tratamento utilizado. Formulagoes NanoF com 50% (tratamento de um minuto) e 100% (tratamento de cinco minutos) promoveram uma remineralizagao do esmalte, após o desafio cariogènico, quando comparado com o dentifricio placebo (p <0,05). Assim, o tempo foi considerado um fator importante para o sistema de liberagao de flúor. A nanotecnologia pode ser um sistema promissor de remineralizagao da cárie, por disponibilizar o flúor por maior tempo na superficie dentària.
