In situ remineralization of enamel lesions using continuous versus intermittent fluoride application

Area of Science:

• Dental Science
• Cariology
• Biomaterials

Background:

• Early enamel lesions represent a demineralization stage of dental caries.
• Remineralization strategies are crucial for caries prevention and management.
• Fluoride is a well-established agent for promoting enamel remineralization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of a fluoride (F) chewing gum and a fluoride-releasing device (FRD) in remineralizing early enamel lesions in situ.
• To evaluate the impact of these delivery systems on enamel's resistance to acid attack.

Main Methods:

• An in situ study design involving 6 adult participants using removable appliances with enamel specimens containing subsurface lesions.
• Application of a fluoride-free dentifrice for all groups.
• Two experimental groups: one chewing F gum (0.1 mg F/stick, 5 sticks/day) and another using an FRD (0.5 mg F/day).
• Assessment of microhardness, in vitro acid resistance, fluoride content, and mineral density changes after 21 days of intraoral exposure.

Main Results:

• Both F chewing gum and FRDs demonstrated significantly higher percent remineralization and improved acid resistance compared to the control group (p > 0.05).
• The fluoride content in enamel exposed to FRDs was higher than that from both F gum and control groups.
• Microhardness and mineral density changes indicated comparable remineralization efficacy between F gum and FRDs.

Conclusions:

• Both fluoride chewing gum and fluoride-releasing devices are effective in promoting remineralization of early enamel lesions.
• FRDs may offer a more consistent and potentially higher fluoride delivery to enamel surfaces.
• These findings support the use of novel fluoride delivery systems for caries management.