Effect of fluoride gels supplemented with nanosized sodium trimetaphosphate on enamel remineralization in situ

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of fluoride gels supplemented with nano-sized sodium trimetaphosphate (TMP) on the remineralization of artificial caries lesions in situ. Bovine enamel blocks (n=160) were randomly distributed among study groups after surface microhardness (SH) analysis and induction of subsurface lesions. Test groups included: Placebo (without F and TMP – negative control), 9000 µg F/g (9000F – positive control), 4500 µg F/g + 5% micrometric TMP (4500 5%+ TMPmicro) and 4500 µg F/g + 5% nano-sized TMP (4500 + 5%TMPnano). Ten volunteers used palatal devices containing 4 enamel blocks during 3 days, after a single application of gels, following a double-blind and crossover protocol. Two enamel blocks were removed immediately after topical application of F to determine calcium fluoride (CaF2) formed on enamel. After each phase, the samples were analyzed by percentage of surface hardness recovery (%SHR) and CaF2 retained on enamel. Data were analyzed by repeated-measures ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keuls test (p<0.05). The highest %SHR was observed for 4500 5%TMPnano gel, following by 4500 5%TPMmicro, 9000F, and Placebo, with significant differences among all groups. Regarding CaF2 formed, the highest concentration was observed in the 9000F group. No significant differences were observed among 9000F, 4500 5%TMPmicro and 4500 5%TMPnano groups for concentrations of CaF2 retained. It was concluded that the addition of TMP to gels improved the remineralization of caries lesions in situ. The use of nano-sized TMP further enhanced this effect.