Remineralizing potential of a 60-s in vitro application of Tooth Mousse Plus

Background. No published studies exist on the remineralizing potential of Tooth Mousse Plus (R) (TMP) when applied for less than 3 min. Aim. To evaluate (i) the remineralizing potential of TMP on artificial carious lesions, when applied thrice daily for 60 s, and (ii) the benefit of using a fluoridated dentifrice prior to TMP application. Design. Carious lesions, 120-200 mu m deep, were produced by placing molars in demineralizing solution for 96 h, and sections 100-150 mu m thick were then randomly assigned to four groups. Specimens were treated thrice daily with a non-fluoridated (Group A), or 1000 ppm F dentifrice (Group B), or TMP (Group C), or a 1000 ppm F dentifrice followed by TMP application (Group D), and then subjected to a 10-day pH cycling model. Lesion evaluation involved polarizing light microscopy and microradiography. Results. Post-treatment maximum mineral content at the surface zone (V-max) was significantly increased and lesion depth (LD) significantly decreased in Group C, while only the V-max increased in Group D. Increase in LD was observed in Group B; however, no significant differences were noted in percentage LD changes between groups B, C, and D (P > 0.05). Conclusions. TMP applied for 60 s significantly remineralized the artificial carious lesions. No additional benefit was evident when TMP was preceded by treatment with 1000 ppm F dentifrice.