Reminerlization Potential of Innovative Biomimetic Material in Caries White Spot Lesions

Dental caries is the localized destruction of tooth tissues by acids, especially lactic acid, produced by the fermentation of dietary carbohydrates by bacteria in dental plaque. Demineralization can be arrested or reversed when remineralization agents are applied to incipient carious or non-cavitated carious lesions. A large number of therapeutic agents including non-fluoridated products have been developed to promote enamel remineralization. The process of restoring lost mineral ions to the tooth structure and strengthening the lattice work is known as remineralization. The development of decalcification around orthodontic brackets and bands, commonly called white spot lesions (WSLs), is often observed in patients with poor oral hygiene during treatment .In many instances, these WSLs continue to be visible after the removal of fixed appliances and after natural remineralization. The remineralized enamel crystallites are generally more resistant to decalcification and also have the same orientation as the original enamel crystallites. The early enamel lesions have a potential for remineralization with an increased resistance to further acid challenge, particularly with the use of enhanced remineralization treatments. Recaldent™ is derived from the milk protein, casein. For many years it has been known that milk and its derivatives have a tooth protective effect. Research has shown that this activity is due to a part of the casein protein called Casein Phosphopeptide (or CPP), which carries calcium and phosphate ions in the form of Amorphous Calcium Phosphate (or ACP) which used in reminerlization of white spot caries lesions. Clinpro tooth crème (3M ESPE) is a 0.21% w/w sodium fluoride (NaF) anti caries dentifrice that contains 950 ppm fluoride and a functionalized tricalcium phosphate (f-TCP) ingredient.One major advantage of this calcium phosphate system is that it is stable in aqueous environment and also does not affect the fluoride activity added in the dentifrices. Furthermore,it has been suggested that fluoride combination with f-TCP not only provides greater remineralization in terms of microhardness and fluoride uptake, but also decreases the dose of fluoride required to achieve the same degree of remineralization,