Effect of resin infiltration on the nanomechanical properties of demineralized bovine enamel

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of resin infiltration in preventing in vitro lesion progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Buccal surfaces of bovine incisors were divided into mesial and distal regions and, at the center, nail varnish was applied (1.0 mm width) to protect the enamel surface against any further treatment. In order to create artificial enamel lesions in the unprotected areas, each specimen was soaked in a demineralizing solution. After that, specimens had two enamel lesions. One lesion in each sample was etched with 15% HCl for 120 s and infiltrated with a commercial infiltrating resin for 3 min, while the other lesion was not treated (control). Each specimen was cross-sectionally halved and randomly allocated to two groups: Group 1 was immediately processed and Group 2 was submitted to a new demineralization process. The samples were analyzed by means of cross-sectional hardness measurements using a nanoindenter equipment. Hardness data were statistically analyzed by non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis and MannWhitney tests (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The findings showed statistical difference between treatments at the same analyzed distance range from the outer surface of the enamel (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The untreated lesion showed lower hardness values for distances near the outer surface of the enamel. The resin infiltration was efficient in preventing further in vitro demineralization of bovine enamel lesions.