Caries Activity and Ph Level Changes after Fluoride Varnish and Casein Phosphopeptides-Amorphous Calcium Phosphate Application on Children's Saliva

BACKGROUND: Caries is a disease affecting the hard tissue of the tooth wherein the demineralization process caused by Streptococcus mutans decreases saliva pH faster than the remineralization process can maintain it. Topical fluoridation, such as fluoride varnish and casein phosphopeptides-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) is the most common preventive therapy for the disease. AIMS: The aim of this study is to assess the difference between fluoride varnish and CPP-ACP in reducing saliva pH and caries activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an experimental study with a sample population of 60 children (aged 8–9 years old), divided into two groups of 30. Group 1 was treated with fluoride varnish, Group 2 with CPP-ACP. A t-test was used to measure the effects of the different treatments. RESULTS: The result showed that the average difference in saliva pH before and after application was −0.12933 in Group 1 and −0.14033 in Group 2 (P = 0.256). The average difference in caries activity before and after application was 3.189 log colony-forming units (CFUs)/mL in Group 1 and 2.237 log CFUs/mL in Group 2 (P = 0.275). CONCLUSION: The most effective treatment for increasing saliva pH and reducing caries activity can be achieved by using the varnish for 1 month. However, there is no difference between fluoride varnish and CPP-ACP with regard to altering saliva pH and reducing caries activity statistically. Future study is needed to explore this result.