Targeted enamel remineralization with mineral-loaded starch particles.

Background: Noninvasive caries treatments work topically, which may limit efficacy. The authors hypothesized that an alternative approach using mineral-loaded particles designed to target the subsurface of noncavitated caries lesions could be advantageous. This study shows in vitro proof-of-concept.

Surface porosity of enamel white spot lesions and penetration of fluorapatite nanocrystals into their subsurface: proof-of-concept study.

Objectives: In this study, we used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to quantify the size of surface pore apertures of enamel white spot lesions and then demonstrated the penetration of fluorapatite nanocrystals (nFA) into the subsurface of these lesions.

Methods: For the porosity study, enamel lesions were created on three sound human teeth using a demineralizing gel for 8 days. The interface between sound enamel and the artificial lesion was analyzed by AFM.

Nanoparticle-Based Targeting and Detection of Microcavities.

Although dental caries is the most prevalent oral disease worldwide, currently, many dentists continue to use the traditional mirror and probe (dental explorer) method of caries diagnosis. This method of caries detection has the drawback that it is often difficult to distinguish between active and inactive carious lesions. In this work, novel bio-based nanoparticles are developed to specifically detect active caries in vitro.

Nano/micro fluorhydroxyapatite crystal pastes in the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity: an in vitro study.

Objectives: Dentin hypersensitivity (DH) is a prevalent problem. This study aimed to formulate a paste using fluorhydroxyapatite (FA) crystals dispersed in different carriers to treat DH. The ability to occlude patent dentinal tubules and to release ions was investigated.

Enamel crystals of mice susceptible or resistant to dental fluorosis: an AFM study.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the overall apatite crystals profile in the enamel matrix of mice susceptible (A/J strain) or resistant (129P3/J strain) to dental fluorosis through analyses by atomic force microscopy (AFM).

Material And Methods: Samples from the enamel matrix in the early stages of secretion and maturation were obtained from the incisors of mice from both strains. All detectable traces of matrix protein were removed from the samples by a sequential extraction procedure.

The effect of the surface characteristics of various substrates on fluorapatite crystal growth, alignment, and spatial orientation.

Background: Fluorapatite-coated materials have potential application for dental and medical implants. In tooth development, the prism-like structure in enamel is thought to be created by the cells and proteins involved in enamel formation and maturation. This study investigated whether the substrate itself on which the films are grown, without the inclusion of cells or proteins, may affect their crystal alignment and three-dimensional morphology.