İn- vitro investigation of the effect of childhood asthma medicines on the surface roughness of primary teeth

The aim of this in vitro study was to examine the effects of frequently used childhood asthma medications on the surface roughness of the primary teeth. In the study, 60 extracted caries-free human deciduous incisors were used. All the teeth were sanded underwater to smooth uneven areas of the labial enamel surfaces. Before starting the measurements, 50 samples were randomly numbered and divided into 5 groups: Group 1 (budesonide - BUDECORT STERI-NEB 0.25 mg/ml neb. TEVA), Group 2 (fluticasone propionate- FLIXOTIDE 50 mcg), Group 3 (salbutamol sulfate- VENTOLIN 2mg/ 5ml), Group 4 (montelukast - ONCEAIR 5mg), and Group 5 (control). A total of 10 more samples were prepared for SEM measurements, with two extra samples from each group. Initial measurements were made with the Optical Profilometry and Raman spectroscopy, and initial surface properties were evaluated with the Scanning Electron Microscopy. Then, during the 14-day test period, the drugs were administered to the samples in nebulizer, metered dose inhaler, syrup, and tablet forms for one minute twice a day. The samples were stored in the artificial saliva solution between the drug administration sessions. Final evaluations were made with the Optical Profilometry, Raman Spectroscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy. When the initial and final values of the optical profilometer average surface roughness (Ra) measurements were examined within the groups themselves, a significant difference was found only in Group 4 (p=0.013), while this difference was not significant in the other groups. It was observed that the results of the evaluation obtained by SEM and Raman spectroscopy analysis were compatible with the optical profilometer. According to the results of the Raman spectroscopy analysis, a significant decrease (p<0.001) was observed in the final value of the density of the enamel content of the samples (PO43-). This significant difference was seen due to Group 3 and Group 4. As a result, Onceair drug containing montelukast, which is one of the asthma drugs, increased the surface roughness values of the primary teeth, and Onceair as well as Ventolin drugs formed demineralization on the enamel surface of primary teeth in vitro conditions. Considering the results of the current in vitro study, it can be concluded that different asthma medications may have different effects depending on the surface roughness of the primary teeth, their ingredients, and the application method.