The effect of various remineralizing agents containing calcium and phosphate on the artificial enamel caries

Dental caries involve a pathological process whereby cryogenic microorganisms cause localized destruction of a tooth's hard tissues. Many remineralization agents are being developed in order to increase the resistance of dental tissues against caries formation, stop the progression of caries, and regain lost mineral content. For this purpose, remineralization agents containing calcium-phosphate (Ca-PO4-3) are frequently used. These agents show anti-carious effect by inhibiting bacterial colonization and raising Ca and PO4-3 levels in dental plaque. This study used Raman spectroscopy to conduct comparative in vitro evaluation of the effect of remineralization agents containing Ca-PO4-3 on the intensity of PO4-3 in permanent teeth. In the study, 80 permanent tooth enamel samples were divided evenly into four groups and assigned a remineralization agent for application: agents containing casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate(CPP-ACP)+fluoride; tricalcium phosphate(TCP)+ fluoride;amorphous calcium phosphate(ACP)+ fluoride; and a control group with no application. In each case, 4×6 mm windows were prepared to evaluate the enamel surfaces. One-third of these windows were coated with acid-resistant varnish and kept in demineralization solution such that artificial caries surfaces were formed; the second third of the windows were coated with acid-resistant varnish in different colors. All samples were subjected to pH cycling, with remineralization agents administered during the cycle. The solid, demineralized, and remineralized surfaces of the samples were examined using Raman analysis. Results showed that PO4-3 density values of the CPP-ACP + fluoride, TCP + fluoride, and ACP + fluoride groups were significantly higher than those of the control group. There was no statistically significant difference between the three remineralization groups. Thus remineralization agents containing Ca and PO4-3 make the PO4-3 density in the tooth similar to the solid enamel surface density.