Frequency of fluoridated milk to re-mineralize artificial carious lesions

Abstract

Introduction: Milk is a universal dietary component that could bean effective medium for the delivery of fluoride. The objective ofthis study was to determine whether the frequency of treatingartificial carious lesions with fluoridated milk of different concen-trations alters the re-mineralizing potential.Materials and methods: Artificial carious lesions, (90–180 lmdeep), were formed on the buccal and lingual enamel surfaces ofextracted molars using a de-mineralizing solution. The teeth were sectioned to create specimens 100–150 lm thick. The sections werepainted with a varnish except for the outer surface of the lesion.The specimens were randomly divided into thirteen groups andtreated with: water, plain milk or fluoridated milk (2.5 ppm,5 ppm, 10 ppm) once, twice or on alternate days using a 20-day pHcycling model. Lesion depth and mineral content (Vmax) beforeand after the pH cycle were evaluated using polarized lightmicroscopy and microradiography. Paired t-test, ANOVA andStudent-Newman-Keuls tests were employed to make comparisonswithin each group and between the different groups.Results: Fluoridated milk (2.5 ppm, 5 ppm, 10 ppm) significantlyreduced the lesion depth and increased the Vmax of the lesions incomparison to the control groups (P<0.05). Specimens treatedwith 2.5 ppm fluoride milk twice daily exhibited the greatestreduction in lesion depth ( P<0.05).Conclusion: Fluoridated milk has a beneficial effect on the pro-gression of artificial enamel carious lesions. Milk with 2.5 ppmfluoride, when used twice daily, exhibited a greater re-mineralizingpotential than when used once daily, or on alternate days with thesame or higher concentrations.