Mechanical and micromorphological evaluation of chlorhexidine-mediated dentin remineralization

Chlorhexidine (CHX) has been reported to reduce self-degradation of collagen fibrils by inhibiting host-derived protease activity in demineralized dentin. Theoretically, if the collagen fibril scaffold of demineralized dentin maintains its original crosslinkage pattern on treatment with CHX and appropriate supplementation with necessary mineral sources, dentin remineralization may occur in demineralized lesions. In this study, we provide direct mechanical and micromorphological evidence for the ability of CHX to promote remineralization of demineralized dentin. Specifically, with respect to demineralized dentin blocks treated with different concentrations of CHX (0.02-2%) and stored in simulated body fluid, we have observed a significant increase in the elastic modulus of dentin treated with relatively high concentrations of CHX (0.2 and 2%) as storage time increased, whereas the elastic modulus of the non-CHX treated control group decreased. We have also observed a dense mineral deposition along collagen fibrils in the dentin group treated with 0.2 and 2% CHX via field emission scanning electron microscopy.