Innovative Dentin Remineralization and Tubule Occlusion Using Titanium Dioxide-Doped Phosphate Glass and Diode Laser:...

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Science
• Dental Materials
• Laser Dentistry

Background:

• Titanium dioxide-doped phosphate glass (TDPG) is a silica-free glass with potential for dentin remineralization due to its chemical stability and ion release.
• The efficacy of diode laser irradiation in enhancing the clinical performance of TDPG paste for dentin remineralization remains unevaluated.
• Assessing TDPG paste and diode laser combination against a commercial fluoride paste (NuPro) is crucial for understanding their comparative effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the in vitro effectiveness of TDPG paste combined with diode laser.
• To compare its ability to occlude dentinal tubules, promote remineralization, and resist acid challenge against NuPro prophy paste.
• To investigate the role of diode laser irradiation in enhancing the performance of both dental pastes.

Main Methods:

• Seventy human dentin discs were divided into seven groups, including controls, TDPG, NuPro, and their combinations with diode laser.
• Treatments were followed by a 6% citric acid challenge to assess acid resistance.
• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy (RS) were used to evaluate tubule occlusion and mineral content (phosphate and carbonate).

Main Results:

• SEM showed improved surface sealing with laser irradiation for both TDPG and NuPro; NuPro+laser exhibited better surface integrity post-acid challenge.
• RS revealed significantly less phosphate reduction in TDPG+laser (1.8%) compared to NuPro groups (45.8-48.9%) after acid exposure.
• TDPG groups showed increased phosphate and carbonate intensities post-acid challenge, indicating greater acid resistance compared to NuPro.

Conclusions:

• TDPG paste demonstrates a more chemically stable remineralization process, offering sustained mineral reinforcement.
• NuPro paste combined with diode laser provides better surface integrity but may cause laser-induced microcracks.
• Diode lasers can enhance desensitizing agent interaction, but material compatibility needs improvement for long-term efficacy.