X Cheng1, P Xu, X Zhou, M Deng, L Cheng, M Li, Y Li, X Xu. 1. State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study focused on the interaction of arginine and fluoride on the remineralization of artificial enamel carious lesions in vitro. METHODS: Human enamel blocks with artificial carious lesions were prepared and randomly divided into six treatment groups (n=30 for each group): deionized water, arginine solution, NaF solution, arginine/NaF solution, arginine-free fluoride toothpaste slurry and arginine-containing fluoride toothpaste slurry. After a pH-cycling regimen for 10 days, subsets of specimens from each group were subjected to independent analysis, including surface microhardness (n=8/30), cross-sectional microhardness (n=8/30), enamel fluoride uptake (n=8/30) and polarized light microscopy (n=6/30). The samples tested for surface microhardness were further subjected to simulated plaque acid challenge before surface microhardness was remeasured. RESULTS: Arginine solution promoted remineralization compared with deionized water control (p<0.05). When used in combination with fluoride, arginine significantly increased fluoride uptake compared with fluoride alone (p<0.05). In addition, lesions treated with arginine-containing toothpaste also showed superior fluoride uptake compared with those treated with conventional fluoride toothpaste (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Arginine promoted enamel fluoride uptake when used in combination with fluoride, thereby contributing to resistance of enamel to carious demineralization.
BACKGROUND: This study focused on the interaction of arginine and fluoride on the remineralization of artificial enamel carious lesions in vitro. METHODS:Human enamel blocks with artificial carious lesions were prepared and randomly divided into six treatment groups (n=30 for each group): deionized water, arginine solution, NaF solution, arginine/NaF solution, arginine-free fluoride toothpaste slurry and arginine-containing fluoride toothpaste slurry. After a pH-cycling regimen for 10 days, subsets of specimens from each group were subjected to independent analysis, including surface microhardness (n=8/30), cross-sectional microhardness (n=8/30), enamel fluoride uptake (n=8/30) and polarized light microscopy (n=6/30). The samples tested for surface microhardness were further subjected to simulated plaque acid challenge before surface microhardness was remeasured. RESULTS:Arginine solution promoted remineralization compared with deionized water control (p<0.05). When used in combination with fluoride, arginine significantly increased fluoride uptake compared with fluoride alone (p<0.05). In addition, lesions treated with arginine-containing toothpaste also showed superior fluoride uptake compared with those treated with conventional fluoride toothpaste (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Arginine promoted enamel fluoride uptake when used in combination with fluoride, thereby contributing to resistance of enamel to carious demineralization.