Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate and compare the effect of different remineralizing agents on early enamel lesions in primary teeth using Vickers microhardness testing.
Methodology: This in-vitro experimental study included fifty primary anterior teeth. Early enamel lesions were created by placing the samples in demineralizing solution for 4 days, then the specimens were randomly divided into 5 groups according to variable testing agent (control, sodium fluoride, CCP-ACP, CCP-ACP/F, nHAp) which were applied throughout a pH-cycling model. Surface microhardness was measured at three time points, at baseline, following demineralization and finally after pH-cycling (SMH-B, SMH-D and SMH-R), then percent microhardness recovery was calculated (%HR).
Results: Data was analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test for multiple-groups followed by Mann Whitney U test for two-group comparisons. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups at baseline and demineralization measurements. However, a statistically significant difference was detected between the groups after pH-cycling, such that the control group recorded the least mean hardness number, followed by the CCP-ACP group. At the same time, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups of NaF, CPP-ACP/F and nHAp groups. Similarly, %HR statistical relation followed the same pattern as the SMH-R.
Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, it can be concluded that nHAp toothpate, CCP-ACP/F and (1000 ppm) fluoridated toothpaste are more effective than CCP-ACP in early enamel lesions remineralization.