[Effects of saliva substitutes and mouthwash solutions on dentin]

Saliva substitutes are used by patients suffering from hyposalivation to alleviate the symptoms of severe xerostomia. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of various saliva substitutes (Artisial; Glandosane; Oralube; Saliva medac; Oralbalance) on the lesion depth and the mineral content in sound bovine dentin in vitro. 96 dentine specimens were prepared from 24 freshly extracted bovine incisors and exposed for seven days to the various solutions. A carbonate-reduced mineral water (Hirschquelle) as well as the mouthwash solutions Meridol and biotène served as controls. After storage in the solutions, the specimens were cut perpendicularly to their surfaces, polished up to 4000 grit and mounted on plexiglass microscope slides. The slabs were ground to a uniform thickness of 110 mu m. Lesion depths and mineral content were evaluated from microradiographs of the prepared specimens by a dedicated software (TMR 1.24) After storage in Glandosane and biotène results indicated a significant mineral loss and increase in lesion depth (p<0.01; Kruskal-Wallis). All other solutions used did not have any effect on the integrity of the dentin samples. Thus, the use of both Glandosane as well as biotène cannot be recommended in dentate patients with severe xerostomia.