title: In vivo comparison of caries inhibition by a plaque mineral enriching mouthrinse and a fluoride dentifrice.
abstract: Six subjects wore lower-arch intra-oral appliances supporting plaque-covered enamel units in the left and right buccal sulci. Units on both sides received identical cariogenic challenges by intermittent immersion in 0.28 M glucose. When one side was treated, in addition, with a mouthrinse designed to enrich plaque with Ca, P, and F, there was a 76% reduction in the softening and a 96% reduction in the porosity, created in enamel by the glucose exposures. F dentifrice extract, used similarly, caused a 67% reduction in enamel softening and a 93% reduction in porosity. When the two treatments were compared in the same experiment, the mouthrinse had a significantly greater effect in limiting enamel softening, but the porosity measurement technique was not sensitive enough to confirm this finding. Use of the mouthrinse caused variable deposition of fluorhydroxyapatite in plaque, and scanning electron microscopy examination of enamel showed small adherent hard deposits in some subjects. The polished enamel surface enabled backscattered electron imaging which revealed preferential dissolution of the core and tail regions of the prism. The results suggest that plaque mineral enrichment may be even more effective than F dentifrice in preventing dental caries.
authors.affiliation: Dental Research Unit, Medical Research Council of New Zealand, Wellington.
authors.forename: E I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Pearce
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000032:analysis; D003802:Dentifrices / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005459:Fluorides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010710:Phosphates / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D003802:Dentifrices; D008903:Minerals; D009067:Mouthwashes; D010710:Phosphates; C012980:fluorophosphate; D005459:Fluorides; D002118:Calcium