Remineralizing efficacy of Calcarea Fluorica tablets on the artificial carious enamel lesions using scanning electron microscope and surface microhardness testing: in vivo study.
BACKGROUND
Remineralization is defined as the process whereby calcium and phosphate ions are supplied from a source external to tooth to promote ion deposition into crystal voids in demineralized enamel to produce net mineral gain. The remineralization produced by saliva is less and also a slow process, therefore remineralizing agents are required.


OBJECTIVE
The study was planned to evaluate the effectiveness of homeopathic Calcarea Fluorica (calc-f) tablets as remineralizing agents on artificial carious lesions using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and surface microhardness (SMH) testing.


METHODS
A total of 24 patients needing removable orthodontic treatment were included in the study. They were divided into two groups of 12 patients each. The Group I consisted of patients in whom no tablets were given while Group II consisted of patients in whom calc-f tablets were given in a dosage of 4 tablets twice a day. Four enamel samples with the artificial carious lesions were then embedded in the removable appliance for a period of 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, the enamel samples were retrieved and evaluated by SEM and SMH.


METHODS
One-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and Student's t-test were applied to analyze the difference in the Vickers microhardness number (VHN) values of remineralized enamel obtained from control and experimental group.


RESULTS
The signs of remineralization such as reduction in depth prismatic holes or decrease in porosity, variable sized uneven distribution of deposits and amorphous deposits were seen in enamel samples of both the groups. The mean SMH of remineralized enamel sample of Group I and Group II were 270.48 and 302.06, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
(1) Remineralization occurred in both the groups as indicated by SEM and the increase in surface hardness values in both the groups. (2) Remineralization of enamel samples in the control group as indicated by SEM and also by increase in VHN values indicated that the saliva has a tendency of remineralizing the early carious lesions. Conclusions drawn from the study are that the calc-f tablets can be used as safe and cost effective remineralizing agent.
Department of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, SGT Dental College, Hospital and Research Institute, Village Budhera, Gurgaon, Haryana, India.
Kalpana
K
Bansal
Nidhi
N
Balhara
Mohita
M
Marwaha
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D002327:Cariostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006244:Hardness; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011161:Porifera; D013499:Surface Properties; D013607:Tablets; D014089:Tooth Remineralization
D002327:Cariostatic Agents; D013607:Tablets