Background: The Aloe vera plant is a cactus-like plant in the Liliacea family that has been known and utilized for its medical benefits for millennia. It has been attempted to be used as a remineralizing agent.
Aim of the study: Assessment of the remineralizing effect of aloe vera gel compared to sodium fluoride gel by scanning electron microscope and Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (SEM-EDX).
Materials and methods: 40 extracted premolars were used in this in vitro study. Crowns were separated mesiodistally to give 80 enamel specimens then divided and randomly allocated into demineralizing solution for 4 days to obtain mild caries like lesion (group I) and for 10 days to obtain severe caries like lesions (group II) each group subdivided in to sub group 1 (aloe vera group) and sub group 2 (sodium fluoride group) each sub group had 20 specimens. All specimens were scanned with (SEM-EDX), analysis was carried out at baseline, post demineralization and later post 21 days of remineralization.
Results: SEM-EDX evaluation showed improvement in the enamel appearance and the surface became smooth after remineralization. The surface minerals content mean value in the group treated by aloe vera gel was higher than the recorded mean value for group treated with sodium fluoride.
Conclusion: aloe vera gel could be acceptable alternative to fluoride for caries prevention in terms of safety and efficiency