ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the remineralizing effect of 38% silver diamine fluoride (SDF) application on enamel artificial caries in adjunct to 1000ppm fluoride toothpaste compared with fluoride toothpaste alone by analyzing the mineral density, depth of remineralization, and remineralization percentage of the lesions. METHODS: Eighteen artificial caries slabs were created from the proximal surfaces of nine chemically demineralized premolars. The slabs were scanned by Micro-Computed Tomography (Micro-CT) to determine the baseline mineral density of the initial lesions and randomly allocated into 2 groups. The test group was applied with 38% SDF in adjunct to fluoride toothpaste and the control group was treated with fluoride toothpaste alone. The specimens underwent bacterial pH-cycling for 5 d and were re-evaluated using Micro-CT. The pre-treatment and post-treatment mineral densities were plotted and the areas under the curves were used to calculate the remineralization percentage of both groups. RESULTS: Mineral density significantly increased in both groups after pH-cycling (p<0.05) although to different depths (control group=260µm, test group=300µm). The test group demonstrated a significantly higher mineral density to a depth of 120µm and higher remineralization percentage (p<0.05) compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: The adjunctive use of 38% SDF enhances the remineralization of initial carious lesions based on mineral density, depth, and remineralization percentage compared with the use of 1000ppm fluoride toothpaste alone. SDF might be used as an adjunct to fluoride toothpaste to remineralize incipient caries lesions on smooth tooth surfaces. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In non-compliant patients, the application of 38% SDF might be used as an adjunct to fluoride toothpaste, to remineralize incipient caries lesions of permanent teeth where esthetics is not a concern.
