The Effects of Three Different Pastes on Enamel Caries Formation and Lesion Depth Progression-An In Vitro Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Prevention of initiation and interruption in progression of early lesions are the desirable modes of caries management. Fluoride dentifrices and casein phosphopeptides are known to inhibit demineralization and enhance remineralization. The present study was conducted with the objective to investigate the effects of fluoridated dentifrice, non-fluoridated dentifrice and casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphate paste on enamel caries formation and lesion depth progression.228 tooth sections derived from extracted human permanent molars.were used The study was carried out in 3 phases where in each phase the enamel sections were treated for 14 days twice a day for 3 minutes with respective agents, followed by acid demineralization using 0.05 M acetic acid resulting in lesions. The depths of the lesions were measured using stereomicroscope. The mean lesion depths of three test groups were compared with each other as well as with control group at the end of each phase. Comparison of mean lesion depths of different groups was carried out using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and student's unpaired-t-test. The fluoridated dentifrice group had significantly lesser mean lesion depth than control group in all the three phases (P<0.05). In second phase, non-fluoridated dentifrice and CPP-ACP paste groups had significantly lesser mean lesion depths than control groups (P<0.05). The study demonstrated that twice a day application of fluoridated dentifrice provides substantial protective effect against lesion formation and lesion depth progression. The study could not demonstrate any additional ability of CPP-ACP paste in reducing lesions depth progression and effect was similar to non-fluoridated dentifrice group.