title: The effect of copper on demineralization of dental enamel.
abstract: Previous studies have concluded that copper might inhibit enamel demineralization in vitro. Our aim was to assess the effect of copper (Cu2+), with and without amine fluoride, on human dental enamel under cariogenic challenge in situ. In a double-blind randomized four-leg crossover trial, 14 individuals wore a removable appliance containing 2 enamel slabs, 1 containing an artificial caries lesion. During each leg, the appliance was exposed twice daily to one of the test solutions: 1.25 mM CuSO4, amine fluoride (250 ppm F), copper and amine fluoride combined, or a placebo (water). A cariogenic challenge was provided in all cases by 5 daily exposures to 10% sucrose. Slabs were assessed before and after 21 days' exposure by Knoop microhardness and transverse microradiography. Significantly less demineralization was observed with Cu2+ and fluoride in combination than with fluoride treatment alone (p < 0.05), whereas copper alone had no significant protective effect.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Dentistry, Leeds Dental Institute, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. den2aa@leeds.ac.uk
authors.forename: A Z
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Abdullah
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Strafford
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Brookes
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Duggal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003300:Copper / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003743:Dental Enamel; D003747:Dental Enamel Solubility; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005460:Fluorides, Topical / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006245:Hardness Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008852:Microradiography; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D017001:Tooth Demineralization / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005460:Fluorides, Topical; C094808:amine fluoride solution; D003300:Copper