EFFICACY OF FLUORIDE MOUTHRINSE CONTAINING TRICALCIUM PHOSPHATE ON PRIMARY ENAMEL LESIONS: A POLARIZED LIGHT MICROSCOPIC STUDY.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of fluoride mouthrinse containing tricalcium phosphate (TCP) on remineralization of primary teeth enamel lesions compared with fluoride mouthrinse alone to determine if the addition of TCP gives additional benefit. Thirty-six sound primary incisors were immersed in a demineralizing solution (pH 4.4) for 96 hours at 37 degrees C to create demineralized lesions. After artificial caries formation, the specimens were randomly assigned to one of three groups (n = 12): Group A: deionized water; Group B: 0.05% sodium fluoride (NaF) plus 20 ppm tricalcium phosphate mouthrinse and Group C: 0.05% sodium fluoride (NaF) only mouthrinse. A pH-cycling process was carried out for 7 days at 37 degrees C. During pH-cycing, all the specimens were immersed for 1 minute; 3 times a day, in the respective mouthrinse. The specimens were then evaluated by polarized light microscopy with the computerized Image Pro Plus program. Data were analyzed using paired-t, one-way ANOVA and Tukey's multiple comparison tests at a 95% level of confidence. The depth of the lesions were significantly different between pre- and post-treatment for all groups (p = 0.00). The lesion depth in the Group A (control) increased by 102% (+/-15), in Group B by 34% (+/-12) and Group C by 36% (+/-9). The lesion depths differed significantly between the control (Group A) and treatment groups (Group B,C) (p < 0.05). Group A had a significantly greater increase in lesion depth compared to the other groups. There was no significant difference in the percent change in lesion depths between Groups B and C. We concluded that the fluoride mouthrinse containing tricalcium phosphate provides no additional benefit over the mouthrinse containing fluoride alone.