COMPARISON BETWEEN GREEN TEA EXTRACT AND CASEIN PHOSPHOPEPTIDE AMORPHOUS CALCIUM PHOSPHATE IN TREATMENT OF INCIPIENT CARIES IN PRIMARY TEETH: AN IN VITRO STUDY

Abstract

ABSTRACT One of the major factors to prevent caries is to retrieve the mineral loss as early as possible through an internal source, which is natural saliva, or an external sources as artificial saliva, available remineralising agents and natural agents. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of a natural agent called Green Tea Extract (GTE) and a synthetic remineralising agent called Casein Phosphopeptide Amorphous Calcium Phosphate fluoride (CPP-ACPF) in treatment of incipient caries in primary teeth through scanning electron microscope and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (SEM_EDX). Materials and methods: Fifteen extracted primary teeth were selected and randomly allocated into 2 groups: Group I: CPP-ACPF, Group II: green tea solution of green tea extract. All specimens were scanned with (SEM-EDX), analysis was carried out at baseline, after demineralization and later after remineralisation. Results: SEM-EDX evaluation showed that the surface minerals content mean value for groups I and II were decreased after demineralization and re-increased after remineralization. SEM also showed improvement in the enamel appearance and the surface became smooth after remineralisation. The surface minerals content mean value in the group treated by CPP-ACPF was higher than the recorded mean value for green tea group. Conclusions: both CPP-ACPF and green tea extract have comparable remineralisation potential. KEYWORDS: Casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate fluoride, SEM-EDX, primary teeth, green tea extract, white spot lesions.