ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: No published studies exist on the remineralizing potential of Tooth Mousse Plus® (TMP) when applied for less than 3 min. AIM: To evaluate (i) the remineralizing potential of TMP on artificial carious lesions, when applied thrice daily for 60 s, and (ii) the benefit of using a fluoridated dentifrice prior to TMP application. DESIGN: Carious lesions, 120-200 µm deep, were produced by placing molars in demineralizing solution for 96 h, and sections 100-150 µm thick were then randomly assigned to four groups. Specimens were treated thrice daily with a non-fluoridated (Group A), or 1000 ppm F dentifrice (Group B), or TMP (Group C), or a 1000 ppm F dentifrice followed by TMP application (Group D), and then subjected to a 10-day pH cycling model. Lesion evaluation involved polarizing light microscopy and microradiography. RESULTS: Post-treatment maximum mineral content at the surface zone (Vmax ) was significantly increased and lesion depth (LD) significantly decreased in Group C, while only the Vmax increased in Group D. Increase in LD was observed in Group B; however, no significant differences were noted in percentage LD changes between groups B, C, and D (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: TMP applied for 60 s significantly remineralized the artificial carious lesions. No additional benefit was evident when TMP was preceded by treatment with 1000 ppm F dentifrice.
