Efficacy of remineralizing agents to occlude dentinal tubules in primary teeth subjected to dentin hypersensitivity in vitro: SEM study

AIM: Comparison of casein phosphopeptides (CPPs) and amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), tricalcium phosphate, and hydroxyapatite on assessment of dentine tubule occlusion on primary enamel using scanning electron microscope (SEM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 20 freshly extracted noncarious primary molars were randomly divided into four groups (A to D) with five sections in each group; group A: negative control, group B: CPP-ACP, group C: tricalcium phosphate, and group D: Hydroxyapatite (HA). To assess tubule occlusion, 20 dentin sections of 2 mm thickness were obtained from cervical third of sound primary molars. Each section were processed to simulate the hypersensitive dentin and the test agents were brushed over the sections with an electric toothbrush and observed under SEM for calculation of the percentage of occluded tubules. RESULTS: Group B and D showed greater percentage of tubule occlusion than group C. Intergroup comparison of tubule occlusion potential of Group B and D was not significant. CONCLUSION: HA showed significantly higher dentinal tubule occlusion when compared to CPP-ACP and tricalcium phosphate.