Effect of over-the-counter fluoridated products regimens on root caries inhibition.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of fluoridated dentifrice (FD) and mouthwash (FM) under different treatment regimens on root caries (RC) inhibition. METHODS: Dual-species biofilms formed by Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus casei were grown on the surface of bovine root dentine slabs which were exposed during 3 consecutive days to one of the following treatments: T1-distilled and deionized water 3x/day; T2-FD (1450ppmF) 2x/day; T3-FD 2x/day+FM (226ppmF) 1x/day; T4-FD 3x/day. Viable microorganisms counts were performed after 4 days of biofilm formation. Percentage of surface microhardness change (%SMC), lesion depth (LD; mum), integrated mineral loss (IML; vol%xmum) and the percentages of change (Delta%) in the ratio of fluorapatite (FAp/amide) and hydroxiapatite (HAp/amide) were calculated. RESULTS: Minor changes were found on microbial counts in response to different treatments (p<0.05). %SMC in T4 was statistically lower compared with T2, but with no significant difference compared with T3. LD of slabs treated with T4 was statistically lower compared with T2 and T3, which were not significantly different between them. No significant differences were found for IML, FAp and HAp among the fluoridated treatments (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of FD 3x/day may be more effective than the use of FD 2x/day or the tested association between FD and FM on RC inhibition.