Evaluation of the effectiveness of remineralization preparations used in paediatric dentistry practices

Aim: The goal of preventive dentistry is to intervene prior to the formation of dental caries. This study evaluated the remineralization effects of fluoride varnish, casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium phosphates (CPP-ACP) and casein phosphopeptide amorphous calcium fluoride phosphates (CPP-ACFP) cream, and tricalcium phosphate (TCP) varnish. Materials and Methodology: Samples with early artificial caries lesions were randomly divided into the following 5 groups with 20 samples in each group: (I) control, (II) fluoride varnish, (III) CPP-ACP cream, (IV) CPP-ACFP cream and (V) TCP varnish. The effectiveness of these remineralization agents was evaluated using a laser fluorescence device (DIAGNOdent), a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Results: In the pre- and post-treatment evaluations, the DIAGNOdent remineralization measurements were statistically significant in all the groups, except the control group (p < 0.05). In comparison with the DIAGNOdent measurements, the CPP-ACFP group was found to have significantly higher remineralization than the fluoride group (p < 0.05), while no significant differences were found between the other groups (p > 0.05). The EDX analysis evaluated the Ca/P ratio between the groups. These results indicated that the CPP-ACFP group was significantly higher than the control group, the CPP-ACP group and the TCP group (p < 0.05); no significant differences were found between the CPP-ACFP group and the fluoride group (p > 0.05). In SEM imaging, the most extensive mineral accumulation was observed in the CPP-ACFP group. Conclusion: Three analytical methods demonstrated that CPP-ACFP was the most effective remineralization material tested in this study. How to cite this article: Tatar E, Toptancı İR. Evaluation of the effectiveness of remineralization preparations used in paediatric dentistry practices. Int Dent Res 2019;9(3):138-44. Linguistic Revision: The English in this manuscript has been checked by at least two professional editors, both native speakers of English.