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Volumetric assessment and quantitative element analysis of the effect of fluoridated milk on enamel demineralization
W H Arnold1, M Cerman, K Neuhaus
1Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Witten/Herdecke, Alfred Herrhausen Strasse 50, 58448, Witten, Germany. wolfa@uni-wh.de <wolfa@uni-wh.de>
Objectives:
It was the purpose of this study to investigate the effect of milk and fluoridated milk on experimentally induced caries-like-lesions.
Materials And Methods:
Twelve extracted impacted human molars were covered with wax leaving two 3 mm x 3 mm windows on the buccal and lingual surfaces and incubated alternating in demineralizing solution at pH 4.85 and in milk, F-milk, saline, and remineralizing solution, respectively. Afterwards serial ground sections were cut and investigated by polarization-light-microscopy (PLM) and SEM using EDX element analysis.
Results:
The results showed increased thickness of the superficial layer in the F-milk samples. Quantitative element analysis revealed a significant increase in the fluoride content of the superficial layer and of the body of the lesion of the F-milk group. The body of the lesion of the F-milk group was less demineralized than in the other groups.
Conclusion:
From the results we conclude, that the parallel investigation by PLM, SEM combined with EDX quantitative element analysis is a powerful method to assess caries-like-lesion formation and that fluoridated milk has protective properties in inhibiting demineralization.
