Profilometric and Microradiographic Studies on the Effects of Toothpaste and Acidic Gel Abrasivity on Sound and Demineralized Bovine Dental Enamel

Vol. 39, No. 5, 2005

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Original Paper

Profilometric and Microradiographic Studies on the Effects of Toothpaste and Acidic Gel Abrasivity on Sound and Demineralized Bovine Dental Enamel
A.M. Kielbassa^a, L. Gillmann^a, C. Zantner^a, H. Meyer-Lueckel^a, E. Hellwig^b, J. Schulte-Mönting^c

^aDepartment of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, University School of Dental Medicine, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, and
^bDepartment of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, University School of Dental Medicine, and
^cDepartment of Medical Biometry and Statistics, Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics (IMBI), Albert Ludwigs University, Freiburg i. Br., Germany

Address of Corresponding Author

Caries Res 2005;39:380-386 (DOI: 10.1159/000086844)

Key Words

Acidic fluoride gel
Enamel caries
In vitro study
Laser profilometry
Toothbrushing abrasion
Toothpaste
Transversal microradiography

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the abrasive effects of toothpastes and acidic F gels on sound and demineralized enamel. Pairs of enamel specimens were cut from bovine incisors, embedded in epoxy resin and polished. An artificial subsurface lesion of 80-90 µm depth was created in one specimen from each pair. The samples were covered with adhesive tape, thereby exposing the enamel for abrasivity testing. All samples were divided into six groups of 15 and brushed with a slurry (1:3) of F gel or toothpaste and human saliva. Brushing with water (control) or with slurry was carried out (16,000 strokes) using a medium toothbrush (load 275 g) mounted in a brushing machine. Abrasion was evaluated using laser profilometry, and was about 50% less on sound than on demineralized enamel (p < 0.001). In the latter, brushing with water (0.09 ± 0.03 µm) or with fluoride-free gel (0.08 ± 0.03 µm) resulted in negligible wear. With a medium-abrasive paste (1.76 ± 0.85 µm) and an acidic F gel (2.48 ± 0.72 µm), brushing abrasion was significantly greater (p < 0.001) than with a low-abrasive paste (0.84 ± 0.38 µm). The greatest wear (16.6 ± 10.8 µm) was observed with high-abrasive paste (p < 0.001), and here transversal microradiography revealed a complete loss of the pseudointact surface after brushing. In vitro formed caries-like lesions can be abraded (by toothbrushing) more easily than sound enamel; hence, initial white spot lesions should preferably be brushed with oral hygiene products of low abrasivity.

Author Contacts

Andrej M. Kielbassa
Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology
University School of Dental Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Assmannshauser Strasse 4-6, DE-14197 Berlin (Germany)
Tel. +49 30 84 45 63 03, Fax +49 30 84 46 62 04, E-Mail andrej.kielbassa@charite.de

Article Information

Received: September 17, 2003
Accepted after revision: January 7, 2005
Number of Print Pages : 7
Number of Figures : 1, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 31

Medline Abstract (ID 16110209)

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