SEM-EDX analysis of brushing abrasion of chitosan and propolis based toothpastes on sound and artificial carious primary enamel surfaces.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to assess the brushing abrasion effects of toothpastes containing chitosan and propolis on sound and demineralized primary tooth enamel.


METHODS
Pairs of enamel specimens were prepared from human extracted primary teeth, embedded in epoxy resin and polished. An artificial subsurface lesion was created in one specimen from each pair. All samples were divided into four groups (Chitodent, Aagaard propolis, Elmex, and Control) and brushed with slurry of toothpastes and artificial saliva in a brushing machine. The brushing abrasion depths were evaluated using computer-guided optical profilometry.


RESULTS
No significant differences existed in terms of brushing depths between artificial carious enamel and brushed sound enamel specimens (P>0.05). The abrasion values of the sound enamel samples brushed with Aagaard propolis and control samples were significantly lower than the Elmex group (P<0.05). The lowest brushing abrasion values of demineralized enamel specimens were observed in the Chitodent group (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The tested toothpastes exhibited similar effects in terms of brushing abrasion on both sound and artificially demineralized enamel. Based on mean values without statistical significance, the lowest brushing abrasion values in the demineralized brushed enamel samples were detected in the Chitodent group.
Department of Pedodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Bezmialem Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Serife
S
Ozalp
Ozlem
O
Tulunoglu
D048271:Chitosan / Q000737:chemistry*; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000473:pathology*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods*; D011429:Propolis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission / Q000379:methods*; D014099:Toothbrushing
D011429:Propolis; D048271:Chitosan