In vivo Dentin Remineralization by Calcium-phosphate Cement

• Published in: Journal of dental research 2010-03, Vol.89 (3), p.286-291
• Main Authors: Peters, M.C., Bresciani, E., Barata, T.J.E., Fagundes, T.C., Navarro, R.L., Navarro, M.F.L., Dickens, S.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Calcium - analysis; Calcium phosphates; Calcium Phosphates - analysis; Calcium Phosphates - therapeutic use; Cement; Composite materials; Dental caries; Dental Caries - therapy; Dental Cavity Lining; Dental Cavity Preparation - methods; Dental cement; Dental pulp; Dental Restoration, Permanent - methods; Dental restorative materials; Dentin; Dentin - chemistry; Dentin - drug effects; Dentistry; Electron probe; Electron Probe Microanalysis; Facial bones, jaws, teeth, parodontium: diseases, semeiology; Head and neck surgery. Maxillofacial surgery. Dental surgery. Orthodontics; Humans; Linear Models; Maxillofacial surgery. Dental surgery. Orthodontics; Medical sciences; Non tumoral diseases; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Phosphorus; Phosphorus - analysis; Phosphorus content; Prospective Studies; Remineralization; Resin Cements - chemistry; Resin Cements - therapeutic use; Statistics, Nonparametric; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Teeth; Tooth Remineralization - methods; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0022-0345; 1544-0591
• DOI: 10.1177/0022034509360155

Minimally invasive caries-removal procedures remove only caries-infected dentin and preserve caries-affected dentin that becomes remineralized. Dental cements containing calcium phosphate promote remineralization. This study evaluated the in vivo remineralization capacity of resin-based calcium-phosphate cement (Ca-P) used for indirect pulp-capping. Carious and sound teeth indicated for extraction were randomly restored with the Ca-P base or without base (control), followed by adhesive restoration. Study teeth were extracted after three months, followed by elemental analysis of the cavity floor. Mineral content of affected or sound dentin at the cavity floor was quantified by electron probe micro-analysis to 100-μm depth. After three months, caries-affected dentin underneath the Ca-P base showed significantly increased calcium and phosphorus content to a depth of 30 μm. Mineral content of treated caries-affected dentin was in the range of healthy dentin, revealing the capacity of Ca-P base to promote remineralization of caries-affected dentin.