Qualitative analysis of re mineralized carious lesions subjected to fluoride supplement through confocal laser scanning microscope

Abstract

Aim: 1] Comparative evaluation of the linear depth of induced remineralized lesions after subjecting to fluoride supplements and 2] To assess the average fluorescence at both the demineralized and the remi-neralized zones in all the three study groups under confocal laser scanning microscope. Method: Forty five sound human premolars extracted for orthodon-tic reasons were decoronated 1 mm below the ce-mento-enamel junction and coated with nail varnish except for a 3 × 3 mm window on the buccal surface. The samples were placed in 50 ml of de mineralizing solution at pH 4.6 for 96 hours. Following deminera-lization, the lower half of the 3 × 3 mm window in all the samples were covered with nail varnish to serve as control. The samples were randomly divided into three groups of fifteen teeth each (n = 15) and speci-mens in group A[Nfd] were remineralized using non-fluoridated dentifrice [control], those in groups B [Fd5] and group C [Fd10] using 500 ppm and 1000 ppm of fluoride containing dentifrice, respectively. The specimens were subjected to a 20 day reminera-lization treatment regimen and were sectioned into 100 µm thick sections and two images were captured on the buccal surface from either side of the midpoint of occluso-cervical length using confocal laser scan-ning microscope [CLSM]. Results: were tabulated and statistically analyzed by Anova. Study concluded that 1000 ppm fluoridated dentifrice showed a greater degree of remineralization than other groups and confocal laser scanning microscopes gives promising results in the diagnosis of early enamel lesions over the conventional methods.