Introduction: Despite the cariostatic effect of fluoride, the continuous use of fluoridated toothpastes increases the risk of dental fluorosis. Therefore, new safe alternative technologies of teeth remineralization must be introduced to arrest dental caries and remineralize the early enamel carious lesions.
Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate the remineralizing effect of eggshell powder and novamine on initial caries-like lesions in young permanent teeth compared to fluoride.
Material and Methods: A total of 96 permanent teeth were selected. Each Tooth was coated with nail varnish, leaving squares of 4x4 mm. Each tooth was sectioned into 2 halves longitudinally in a buccolingual direction through the center of the window to obtain a mesial and a distal half (192 specimens). One half was treated and the other half was remained untreated to serve as its negative control. Teeth were assigned into three groups according to treatment agent; group I (eggshell powder solution), group II (novamine toothpaste) and group III (fluoride toothpaste) .Specimens were immersed in the demineralizing solution for 72 hours to produce artificial carious lesions on the exposed enamel surface.
Results: There was a statistically significant mean microhardness and lesion depth values between test subgroups IA (eggshell powder), IIA (novamine) and their controls (P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in mean microhardness and lesion depth values between the test subgroup IIIA (fluoride) and its control (P>0.001). There was statistically significant difference in mean percent difference values of enamel microhardness among three groups (P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in mean percent difference values of lesion depth between the three groups (P>0.001).
Conclusions: Both eggshell powder and novamine were effective for remineralization of initial caries-like lesions of young permanent teeth.