title: Effect of zinc sulfate on human primary enamel microhardness: an in vitro study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess the effect of zinc sulfate on microhardness of human primary enamel.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen sound primary molars were sectioned mesiodistally. For each sample one of the sections was randomly immersed in artificial saliva (Biotene, USA) and the other was immersed in artificial saliva which was charged with 10 mg/5 mL concentration of zinc sulfate supplement (Razak Company, Iran) daily. After 24 days (the expected time to use up one 120-mL bottle) the surface microhardness of enamel was measured by knoop hardness test (KH) with Knoop diamond under a 50-gram load for 10 seconds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (+/- SD) microhardness values (KHV) for the tested groups were 320 +/- 49.45 and 357 +/- 36.35, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between the groups as exhibited by independent t-test (P = 0.023).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary teeth immersed in a zinc sulfate rich solution for 24 days showed higher microhardness values in comparison with the control group.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Dentistry Department, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Mirkarimi200@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mahkameh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirkarimi
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bargrizan
authors.forename: Solmauz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eskandarion
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shahsavari
mesh_terms: D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects*; D018130:Diamond / Q000737:chemistry; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006244:Hardness; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing; D012464:Saliva, Artificial / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects*; D019287:Zinc Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D012464:Saliva, Artificial; D019287:Zinc Sulfate; D018130:Diamond