Document Type : Original Articles

Abstract

Introduction: Dental caries is one of the most important oral cavity diseases, which initially appears as a “white spot lesion” due to the loss of mineral content. The aim of the current study was to evaluate and compare color changes in sound and demineralized enamel after treatment with remineralizing agents. Materials and Methods: In this in vitro study, 96 sound maxillary incisors were randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 16). Groups 1, 2 and 3 were designated as sound enamel, with groups 4, 5 and 6 as demineralized enamel. The teeth in groups 4, 5, and 6 were demineralized to simulate white spot lesions. Subsequently, Groups 1 and 4 were treated with CPP-ACFP (Casein Phosphopeptide-Amorphous Calcium Fluoride Phosphate), Groups 2 and 5 with CPP-ACP (Casein Phosphopeptide-Amorphous Calcium Phosphate), and Groups 3 and 6 with a fluoride mouthwash. All the specimens’ color coordinates were recorded by means of spectrophotometry (based on CIELAB criteria) before and 3 weeks after treatment. Data were analyzed with SPSS 16.0 using one-way, two-way, and repeated measures ANOVA (α = 0.05). Results: The mean ΔE for the demineralized groups was 10.75 ± 4.21. In the treatment phase, the means of ΔE were 18.09 ± 7.53 and 7.94 ± 4.35 for the demineralized and sound enamel groups, respectively, with no significant differences between the three treatment agents (p value > 0.05). Conclusion: Within the limitations of the present study, it seems that treatment with remineralizing agents can cause a significant color change in sound and demineralized enamel, finally resulting in a more acceptable overall esthetic appearance of teeth with white spot lesions.   Key words: CPP-ACP, Dental caries, Sodium fluoride, Spectrophotometry