The Effect of Remineralisation Treatments on Demineralised Dentine, an In Vitro Study

This in vitro study evaluated the effect of commercially available remineralising products on demineralised dentine. Demineralised dentine was stored in pooled saliva or treated with Tooth Mousse, Tooth Mousse Plus, Gel-Kam or NeutraFluor 5000, for 7 days at room temperature. Dentine slices were microhardness tested, and assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive and Raman spectroscopy. Demineralisation decreased dentine microhardness and was increased following storage in saliva. However, Tooth Mousse and NeutraFluor 5000 treatment significantly increased (p<0.05) microhardness. SEM analyses showed that following demineralisation, dentine tubule openings were more clearly defined and treatment with saliva did not alter this surface appearance. Dentine tubules appeared to be occluded following treatment. With the exception of fluoride, few significant differences in elemental content between Tooth Mousse, Tooth Mousse Plus and NeutraFluor5000 were observed. All products significantly increased (p<0.001) fluoride levels compared with control, demineralised and saliva stored specimens. The increase in surface fluoride levels was significantly higher for Gel-Kam and NeutraFluor5000 (p<0.001). Raman spectrometry indicated that fluoride was being incorporated into apatite crystals following treatment with Tooth Mousse Plus, Neutra Fluor 5000 and Gel-Kam.