Acidic/abrasive challenges on simulated non-carious cervical lesions development and morphology

This in vitro investigation assessed how frequency of erosive challenges and duration of toothbrushing abrasion influenced non-carious cervical lesions (NCCLs) development and morphology.

Experimental units were prepared using extracted human premolars assigned to four erosive-abrasive frequency protocols (n=16): F0. No acid exposure (negative control), F2.5 K. Acid exposure (1 % citric acid at natural pH) every 2500, F5K. 5000 and F15K. 15000 brushing-strokes. All groups were brushed for 55000 total brushing-strokes. Three-dimension images of the teeth were captured at baseline, after 15000, 35000 and 55000 brushing-strokes, using an intraoral scanner (TRIOS4, 3Shape). WearCompare software (Leeds Digital Dentistry) was used to analyze volumetric tooth loss (mm³) by superimposition followed by subtraction analysis. Lesion angle was measured (ImageJ, NIH) and morphology visually classified. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and Fisher's Exact tests adopting two-sided 5 % significance level.

Tooth loss increased with brushing-strokes overall (p<0.001) and for each erosive-abrasive protocol (p<0.001). Acid exposure significantly increased tooth loss (p<0.001), regardless of brushing interval (p<0.001), however by 35000 strokes no tooth loss difference was observed among acid-exposed groups (p>0.05). Control had significantly sharper mean lesion angle (59°) than all acid-exposed groups (∼145°) (p<0.001), and significantly different lesion shape with 94 % wedge-shaped lesions versus 0 %, respectively (p<0.001). In contrast to the control, acid exposure was associated to more striated lesions.

Simulated NCCLs developed and progressed differently and more rapidly in the presence of acidic challenges, regardless of their frequency. Exposure to acid impacted the morphology of lesions.