In vitro study evaluating the anti-erosion potential of multi-mineral suspensions

Treatment of early-stage dental erosion typically involves the use of fluoride, but to provide even greater anti-erosion benefits, significant interest lies in developing single-system fluoride formulations containing promising remineralization agents. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the ability of 226 ppm fluoride systems with and without calcium nanoalloy particles, to remineralize artificial erosive lesions in enamel. METHODS: 3mm diameter bovine enamel specimens were ground and polished and initially softened in 1% citric acid (pH = 3.8) for 30 minutes (22°C). Following this initial softening, specimens (N=10) were stratified (mean VHN = 212) into the following groups: (a) distilled water, (b) 226 ppm F solution, and 226 ppm F suspensions containing either (c) 0.004 wt.%, (d) 0.01 wt.%, or (e) 0.06 wt.% calcium nanoalloy particles, and cycled (10 days) in a model consisting of three two-minute treatments (diluted 1:3 with artificial saliva) and five two-minute acid challenges (1% citric acid, pH = 3.8) per day. Between these events, specimens were immersed in artificial saliva. Vickers surface microhardness was then measured after 10 days of cycling. RESULTS: Mean surface microhardness (ΔVHN) recoveries (±SEM) were (a) 38.9 ± 4.8, (b) 73.2 ± 7.0, (c) 95.7 ± 5.8, (d) 83.8 ± 5.9, and (e) 35.4 ± 4.9 with a = e < b ≤ d ≤ c (ANOVA, Student-Newman-Keuls method, p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The 226 ppm F suspension containing 0.004 wt.% calcium nanoalloy exhibited statistically greater remineralization of artificially eroded enamel than the 226 ppm F solution alone in an in vitro 10 day cycling study. Therefore, addition of low levels of calcium nanoalloy to fluoride solutions has the potential to significantly improve anti-erosion efficacy.

This work was supported through a grant from GlaxoSmithKline.