The Increase Of Tooth Enamel Hardness Score After Cow Milk Immersion Compared To Artificial Saliva On Demineralized Tooth

Abstract

Soft drinks and fruit juices with lower acidic pH have become popular beverages in communities. Acidic beverages resulting demineralization on tooth cause a decrease of enamel hardness. In oral cavity, demineralized tooth is rescued by the buffering capacity of saliva as well as by drinking milk to accelerate tooth enamel remineralization. The aim of this study was to investigate the difference of enamel hardness score on tooth immersed in artificial saliva and cow milk. The present study was an experimental laboratory with pre and post test design. Thirty two maxillary first premolars were collected and randomly divided into 2 groups, with 16 samples each immersed in artificial saliva and cow milk. Samples were immersed in acidic solution for 5 min prior to exposing to cow milk (group 1) or artificial saliva (group 2) for 5 min twice a day until day3. Enamel hardness score was measured as follows : pre-treatment, post demineralization stage, and post treatment at day1 and day3 by Microvickers Hardness Tester. Data were analyzed using paired t-test and one way ANOVA. There was a significant difference (p=0,000) on enamel hardness score of group 1 at day1 (324,39±20.35 VHN) and day3 (354,80±21.09 VHN), as well as group 2 at day1 (308,06±15,94 VHN) and day3 (322,18±16.94 VHN). Tooth enamel hardness on group 1 was significantly different to group 2 both at day1 (p=0,018) and day3 (p=0,000). Those results suggest that artificial saliva and cow milk are able to increase the enamel hardness score. However, the efficacy of cow milk to augment the tooth enamel hardness is much higher than of artificial saliva is.