Abstract
The aim of the study was to compare the remineralization potential of a novel dentifrice consisting of a fluoride-containing bioactive glass (BiominF (R)) with that of a dentifrice containing bioactive glass (BG) and sodium monofluorophosphate (Novamin (R)). Fifteen enamel blocks were divided randomly into three groups: 1: (n = 3; control, no treatment, storage in artificial saliva for 24 hr), 2: (n = 6; Novamin (R) toothpaste group), and 3: (n = 6; Biomin F (R) toothpaste group). Toothpaste slurries were prepared by mixing 1 g toothpaste with 5 mL artificial saliva (AS). The specimens were exposed to 6 wt% citric acid (pH, 2.2) for 5 min to mimic demineralization, and specimens in groups 2 and 3 were then stored in the toothpaste slurries for 5 min and 24 hr (n = 3 each). Mean enamel volume changes were evaluated by micro-computed tomography, and mean surface loss or gain was investigated using a profilometer. The Wilcoxon rank sum test and one-way analysis of variance with post-hoc testing were used to identify significant differences (p < 0.05). BiominF (R) performed better than Novamin (R) in terms of remineralization after 5 min and 24 hr, as observed by micro-CT. The surface roughness values of all specimens decreased significantly after exposure to AS and the toothpaste mixtures (p < 0.05), with BiominF (R) specimens showing greater reduction after 5 min. A toothpaste comprised of a fluoride-containing BG showed promising potential to promote remineralization of demineralized human enamel.