Assessment of remineralization potential of Theobromine and Sodium Fluoride gels on Artificial Caries like lesions

Mohamed Saber Elsherbini

doi:10.14295/bds.2020.v23i3.1975

Abstract

Objective: To compare the remineralization potential of theobromine and sodium fluoride gels on artificial caries like lesion. Materials and Methods: Forty longitudinal halves of human mandibular premolars were equally divided into 4 groups of 10 samples each: control group (C), samples were stored in distilled water during the experiment period. The remaining 30 specimens were subjected to demineralization protocol to create caries like lesions. samples were immersed for three days in a demineralization solution (pH 5.0) containing 0.2% carbopol and 0.1% lactic acid saturated with calcium phosphate tribasic. The samples were subdivided into 3 equal groups according to the treatment applied during the pH cycle. Demineralization group “D”: no treatment applied. Group “F” treated with 2000 mg/liter sodium fluoride gel. Group “T” treated with 200 mg/liter theobromine gel. The specimens of the two studies groups were subjected to Demineralization- Remineralization PH Cycle Protocol for 5 days (Alternating four steps: 1: Treatment material, fluoride or theobromine ˜= 3 minutes. 2: Demineralizing solution 3 hours. 3: treatment material ˜= 3 minutes. 4: Remineralizing solution till the next cycle). The samples were investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDXA). Results: The enamel of the demineralization group was porous with artificial caries like changes exposing the subsurface enamel rods with severe rod core defects. Theobromine gel and fluoride gel groups showed marked improvement in the surface characteristics in the enamel in both groups. Theobromine gel group showed more observable enamel surface improvement than the fluoride gel group. EDXA revealed that the calcium-phosphorus ratio displayed a descending order: (C > T > F > D). The differences between the two tested groups were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Theobromine gel had more effective remineralizing potential than fluoride gel as a result of its effect in improving the enamel surface characteristics of human teeth.KeywordsDental caries; Dental enamel, Ultrastructure; Hardness; Microscopy; Electron; Scanning; Sodium Fluoride, Therapeutic use; Theobromine/therapeutic use.

Highlights

Dental caries forms through localized destruction of dental hard tissues by a complex interaction over time between acid-producing bacteria and fermentable carbohydrates and have many host factors including teeth and saliva [1]
Twenty sound human premolars recently extracted for orthodontic reasons from patients of age group (16-23) years were used in the present study
The highest Ca/P ratio was in the theobromine gel followed by fluoride gel which showed no statistical difference between the two treatment groups

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Dental caries forms through localized destruction of dental hard tissues by a complex interaction over time between acid-producing bacteria and fermentable carbohydrates and have many host factors including teeth and saliva [1]. Numerous preventive measures have been employed in the past These include oral hygiene instructions, diet modification, fluoride-releasing orthodontic products, fluoride varnishes, filled resin sealants, and chlorhexidine varnishes [5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14]. At a molar level 71 times less than that of fluoride showed remineralization ability on enamel lesions comparable to that of fluoride [31]. Mahardhika et al, 2017, reported that theobromine and fluoride have similar effects on enamel surface and remineralization ability. This study was designed to compare the efficacy of theobromine and fluoride gels in remineralization of artificial carious enamel in humans’ teeth

MATERIAL AND METHODS

DISCUSSION

Findings

CONCLUSIONS