Influence of Tucupi on Enamel Surface Roughness, Microhardness, Ultramorphology and Mass Variation

Abstract

The study evaluated the influence of tucupi on enamel surface roughness, microhardness, ultramorphology, and mass variation. Ninety healthy bovine incisors were divided into three experimental groups, according to the acidic challenge adopted, being: G1- tucupi, G2- cola-based soft drink, G3-distilled water. The enamel properties (surface roughness, microhardness, ultramorphology and mass variation) of all specimens were evaluated at times T0 (before any intervention), T10 (10 days after the proposed treatments), T20 (20 days after the proposed treatments) and T30 (30 days after the proposed treatments). After confirming the normality of the data (Shapiro-Wilk test), a two-way ANOVA (α = 5%) was performed, followed by Sidak post-test, with results described as mean and standard deviation. The roughness means increased for all tested groups, with no statistical difference only in G3 for all evaluated times. Microhardness of all groups showed a significant decrease over the time, with the lowest average observed in G1 in T30. Considering enamel mass variation, the lowest average was in G2 at time T3, with no statistical difference only in G3 (distilled water) over the time. Regarding ultramorphology (scanning electron microscopy - SEM), only groups G1 and G2, that were exposed to acidic challenges, showed disorganization of the enamel surface layer. It was possible to conclude that tucupi has low pH and high titratable total acidity, being able to gradually decrease enamel microhardness, increasing surface roughness and causing loss of dental enamel.