ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Surface microhardness is a physical property which access the effect of chemical and physical agents on hard tissues of teeth, and a useful way to examine the resistance of fluoride treated enamel against caries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate microhardness of enamel following pH-cycling through demineralization and remineralization using suspensions of dentifrices with different fluoride contents. METHODS: In this in vitro study 56 enamel blocks of primary incisors were soaked in demineralizing solution and four dentifrices suspensions including: Crest 1100 ppm F (NaF), Crest 500 ppm F (NaF), Pooneh 500 ppm F (NaF,) and Pooneh without fluoride. The means and percentage changes of surface microhardness in pre-demineralization, after demineralization and remineralization stages in four groups were measured. The findings of four groups in three stages were compared by, ANOVA, Tukey and paired t-tests. (α=0.05) RESULTS: Average surface microhardness changes of Crest 1100 ppm F, was higher than Crest 500 ppm F, Pooneh 500 ppm F, and Pooneh without fluoride. The percentages of surface microhardness recovery for Crest 1100 ppm F, Crest 500 ppm F, Pooneh 500 ppm F, and Pooneh without fluoride were 45.4, 35.4, 28.6, and 23.7 respectively. Demineralization treatment decreased the surface microhardness of enamel (P<0.05) and the surface microhardness recovery in all groups were significant (P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Surface microhardness of enamel after remineralization by Crest 1100 ppm F was higher than Crest 500 ppm F, Pooneh 500 ppm F, and Pooneh without fluoride.
