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Protecting primary teeth from dental erosion through bioactive glass
Qiong Liu1, Yi-Ying Chen2, Deng-Wei Hong2
1School and Hospital of Stomatology, Fujian Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & Fujian Provincial Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterial & Stomatological Key Laboratory of Fujian College and University, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China; Research Center of Dental Esthetics and Biomechanics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China; Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Stomatology, Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Objectives:
The present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of bioactive glass (BAG) in preventing dental erosion in primary teeth.
Methods:
Enamel and dentin specimens (2 × 2 × 2 mm) were obtained from extracted primary teeth, which were randomly divided into the following groups based on the pretreatments (n = 12): DW (deionized water), NaF (2 % sodium fluoride), 2BAG (2 % BAG), 4BAG (4 % BAG), 6BAG (6 % BAG), and 8BAG (8 % BAG). The specimens were immersed in the respective solutions for 2 min and subjected to in vitro erosive challenges (4 × 5 min/d) for 5 d. The erosive enamel loss (EEL), erosive dentin loss (EDL), and the thickness of the demineralized organic matrix (DOM) were measured using a contact profilometer. The surface microhardness (SMH) was measured, and the percentage of SMH loss (%SMHL) was calculated. The surface morphology and mineral composition were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), respectively.
Results:
After the erosive challenges, the EEL, EDL, and%SMHL of the 2BAG, 4BAG, 6BAG, and 8BAG groups significantly reduced, with the greatest reduction was observed in the 6BAG (EEL: 6.5 ± 0.2 μm;%SMHL in enamel: 12.8 ± 2.6; EDL: 7.9 ± 0.3 μm; %SMHL in dentin: 22.1 ± 2.7) and 8BAG groups (EEL: 6.4 ± 0.4 μm;%SMHL in enamel: 11.0 ± 1.9; EDL: 7.8 ± 0.5 μm; %SMHL in dentin: 22.0 ± 2.5) (P < 0.05). With increasing BAG concentrations, the number of surface deposits containing Ca, P, and Si increased.
Conclusions:
6BAG was the most effective for preventing dental erosion in primary teeth and showed a particularly strong potential for dentin erosion prevention.
Clinical Significance:
Bioactive glass, especially at a 6 % concentration, has proven effective in reducing erosive tooth wear and surface microhardness loss while also protecting demineralized organic matrix in primary dentin.
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