OBJECTIVE: To study the durability of the anti-demineralization effects of fluoride varnish after being applied to dental root surfaces. METHODS: Coronal and radicular dentin samples were prepared from extracted human teeth. Duraphat^® (DP) was applied to the dentine surfaces to form a protective film. The film-dentin interfaces were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the fluoride element was analyzed with energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). Thus, the differences between applying DP on crowns and roots were compared. Radicular dentin samples were prepared and randomly divi-ded into four groups: (1) Blank: DP was not applied, and demineralized in acetic acid (pH 4.5) for 4 days; (2) Blank+aging: DP was not applied, the samples were put into deionized water for 14 days at room temperature, and then demineralized in acetic acid (pH 4.5) for 4 days; (3) DP: DP was applied and demineralized in acetic acid (pH 4.5) for 4 days; (4) DP+aging: DP was applied, the samples were put into deionized water for 14 days at room temperature, and then demineralized in acetic acid (pH 4.5) for 4 days. Finally, SEM observation and EDS analysis of fluoride content were performed on film-dentin interfaces to evaluate the degree of demineralization, the morphology of DP film, and the penetration of fluorine. RESULTS: The immediate penetration depth of fluoride element from DP was deeper in the coronal dentin than that in radicular dentin. The samples in the blank and blank+aging groups demine-ralized significantly after acid etching. The DP group did not undergo demineralization, and the fluorine element penetrated to (76.00±8.94) μm below the interfaces. The structure of the protective film in the DP+aging group was damaged, but the underneath dentin did not undergo demineralization. The fluorine element still remained at a depth of (5.00±3.53) μm below the interfaces. CONCLUSION DP has an anti-demineralization effect on the root surface, and this effect can still be exerted for a period of time after losing the structure of protective film. It has the ability to prevent root caries and a certain durability.
Humans ; Tooth Root/drug effects* ; Fluorides, Topical/pharmacology* ; Tooth Demineralization/prevention & control* ; Dentin/drug effects* ; Fluorides ; In Vitro Techniques ; Cariostatic Agents/pharmacology*

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of casein osphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) in preventing enamel demineralization.

METHODSEnamel blocks were prepared from premolars extracted from orthodontic patients. The specimens were treated for 30 min daily for 7 days with one of the following agents: deionized water (negative control), CPP-ACP paste, and NaF solutions (positive controls) (0.2% and 2%). After the treatments, the specimens were immersed in a demineralizing solution (pH 4.5) for 7 days. The morphology and depth of the lesion were observed using scanning electron microscopy, and the content of Ca, P, Mg in the demineralized enamel was measured by electron probe micro-analyzer.

RESULTSThe demineralization rates in all the treatment groups were significantly smaller than those in the control group after 7 days of demineralization.

CONCLUSIONThe application of CPP-ACP to the enamel surfaces can inhibit enamel demineralization with an equivalent effect to 0.2% NaF.

Adolescent ; Caseins ; therapeutic use ; Dental Enamel ; Humans ; Sodium Fluoride ; Tooth Demineralization ; prevention & control ; Tooth Remineralization

To determine the chemical composition of Galla chinensis extract (GCE) by several analysis techniques and to compare the efficacy of GCE and its main component(s) in inhibition of enamel demineralization, for the development of future anticaries agents, main organic composition of GCE was qualitatively determined by liquid chromatography-time of flight-mass spectrometry (LC-TOF-MS) and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). Inorganic ions were tested by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy and F was especially measured by ion chromatography. Then, bovine enamel blocks were randomly divided into four treatment groups and were subjected to a pH-cycling regime for 12 times. Each cycle included 5-min applications with one of four treatments: 4 g⋅L(-1) GCE solution, 4 g⋅L(-1) gallic acid (GA) solution, 1 g⋅L(-1) NaF solution (positive control), deionized water (DDW, negative control), and then 60-min application in pH 5.0 acidic buffer and 5-min application in neutral buffer. Acidic buffers were retained for calcium analysis. The main organic composition of GCE were GA and its isomer, and, to a lesser extent, small molecule gallotannins. The content of GA in GCE was 71.3%±0.2% (w/w). Inorganic ions were present in various amounts, of which Ca was (136±2.82) µg⋅g(-1), and Zn was (6.8±0.1) µg⋅g(-1). No F was detected in GCE. In pH cycling, GA showed an effect similar to GCE in inhibiting enamel demineralization (P>0.05). GA was found to be the main effective, demineralization inhibiting component of GCE and could be a promising agent for the development of anticaries agents.
Animals ; Calcium ; analysis ; Cariostatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cattle ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Dental Enamel ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Gallic Acid ; analysis ; therapeutic use ; Hydrolyzable Tannins ; analysis ; Mass Spectrometry ; Polyphenols ; analysis ; Random Allocation ; Tooth Demineralization ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo evaluate casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) and several fluoride products in inhibiting enamel demineralization.

METHODSSeventy healthy premolars extracted before orthodontic treatment were divided into seven groups (A: CPP-ACP; B: CPP-ACP + fluoride mouth rinses; C: fluoride mouth rinses; D: fluoride glass ionomer protection; E: fluoride resin binder; F: fluoride varnish; G: control group). There were ten samples in each group. The teeth were dipped into an artificial caries solution ten minutes at a time, then applied separately with CPP-ACP, CPP-ACP + fluoride mouth rinses, fluoride mouth rinses, fluoride glass ionomer protection, fluoride resin binder and fluoride varnish on labial enamel. The samples were dipped into an artificial saliva solution (37°C). Then all samples were examined with atomic force microscope (AFM) at the end of first, second and third monthes.

RESULTSAt the end of the first month, surface roughness in group D [(114 ± 1) nm] was significantly lower than that in group G[(172 ± 9) nm]. At the end of the second month and the third month, significant difference was found in surface roughness between group G and the rest of groups (P < 0.05); between group B and the rest of groups; and between group C and groups (D, E and F).

CONCLUSIONSCPP-ACP and fluoride could both inhibit enamel demineralization in vitro. Solid fluoride (groups D, E and F) had better results than liquid fluoride (group C).

Adolescent ; Bicuspid ; ultrastructure ; Caseins ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Dental Enamel ; ultrastructure ; Fluorides ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Random Allocation ; Tooth Demineralization ; prevention & control ; Tooth Remineralization

AIMThe effect of Galla chinensis on de-/re-mineralization of advanced enamel lesions was investigated by using micro-CT in a prolonged in vitro experiment.

METHODOLOGYBaseline mineral contents of sound enamels were first analyzed. Then lesions were produced in an acidic buffer solution (2.2 m mol x L(-1) Ca(NO3)2, 2.2 mmol x L(-1) KH2PO4, and pH = 4.5) for 21 days, with thrice daily three-minute treatments, divided into four groups: Group A, 4 000 ppm crude aqueous extract of Galla chinensis (GCE); Group B, 4000 ppm gallic acid; Group C, 1000 ppm F aq. (as NaF, positive control); Group D, deionized water (negative control). Next, the blocks were immersed in a remineralization solution (1.5 mmol x L(-1) CaCl2, 0.9 mmol x L(-1) KH2PO4, 0.1 ppm F, and pH = 7.0) for 200 days. Mineral loss (ML) in each region of interest (ROI) and integrated mineral loss (IML) of the lesions were calculated (comparing with baseline mineral content of sound enamel) at different time points.

RESULTSAfter 21 days demineralization, fluoride treatment showed a statistically significant demineralization-inhibiting effect among the four groups, and after 200 days of remineralization, mineral content recovery was ordered (lowest to highest) as A = C < B < D.

CONCLUSIONGCE could slow down the remineralization of enamel in the surface layer and thereby facilitate ion transport into the lesion body. The mechanism of Galla chinensis in enhancing the remineralization of dental caries is different from fluoride.

Animals ; Cariostatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cattle ; Dental Enamel ; chemistry ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Gallic Acid ; therapeutic use ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Materials Testing ; Minerals ; analysis ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use ; Sodium Fluoride ; therapeutic use ; Time Factors ; Tooth Demineralization ; prevention & control ; Tooth Remineralization ; methods ; X-Ray Microtomography

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the anti-demineralization efficacy of Galla Chinesis in pH cycling model for elucidating the anti-root caries mechanism.

METHODAnti-demineralization efficacy evaluation of the natural medicine in the pH-cycling models was used . Sound human root blocks were pH-cycled through the treatment solution, acidic buffer and neutral buffer. The cycling times for demineralization study were 12 times, 2 times per day. The acidic buffers were retained for calcium analysis by atomic adsorption spectroscopy. The sections of blocks were analysed after pH-cycling by CLSM. Treatments were 4 g x L(-1). Galla Chinesis, 1 g x L(-1) NaF solution and distilled water.

RESULTGalla Chinesis was found to inhibit the demineralization in the pH cycling model. Although the effect was not as good as fluoride, there was no significant difference between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONThese data suggest that Galla Chinesis could modulate the mineralisation behaviour of root tissue in a defined chemical circumstance. These findings support the proposition that Galla Chinesis may be a promising anticaries natural medicine in the future.

Animals ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cuspid ; drug effects ; pathology ; Dental Caries ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Insecta ; chemistry ; Materia Medica ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Microscopy, Confocal ; Sodium Fluoride ; pharmacology ; Tooth Demineralization ; metabolism ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Tooth Remineralization ; Tooth Root ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the resin-modified glass ionomer cement for inhibition of enamel demineralization adjacent to orthodontic brackets under a pH cycling experiment.

METHODSThe study used 5 pairs of extracted human premolars. The experiment teeth were bonded with resin-modified glass ionomer, the control teeth were bonded with composite resin. All samples were under the pH cycling experiment each day for 60 days. Demineralization lesions of enamel adjacent to orthodontic brackets were evaluated with polarized light microscopy. The depth and area of the lesion, and the distance between the edge of the adhesive on the enamel surface and the border of the lesion were measured.

RESULTSThe depth and area of lesions of control were greater than those of experiment group were. Paired t test showed significant differences (p < 0.001). There was always a distance between the lesions border and the glass ionomer cement. In control group, all lesions were developed under the edge of composite resin.

CONCLUSIONIt was suggested that resin-modified glass ionomer may become an orthodontic bonding agent to minimize enamel demineralization.

Glass Ionomer Cements ; chemistry ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Orthodontic Brackets ; adverse effects ; Tooth Demineralization ; etiology ; prevention & control