To assess the remineralization of artificial dentin lesions achieved with composites containing dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) particles. Composites (42 vol% inorganic fraction) were tested: barium glass (BG; control), DCPD or 1DCPD:1BG. Degree of conversion (DC) was measured by FTIR. Ca2+ release was monitored using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and scanning electrochemical microscopy (n=3). Artificial lesions were restored and kept in simulated body fluid for 28 days. Remineralization was assessed by mineral-to-matrix ratio (MMR; n=5) and nanoindentation (n=6). Data were analyzed using parametric tests (α=5%). DC ranged between 56.2 and 58.1% (p>0.05). Ca2+ release was 40.0±1.5 ppm and 18.4±1.6 ppm, respectively, for DCPD-only and DCPD+BG (p2+ release near the specimen surface reached 32 ppm within minutes after immersion. No differences in MMR were observed. Specimens in the DCPD-only group reached an elastic modulus higher than the control in the outer lesion (p<0.01). DCPD-containing composites may represent a promising approach to support dentin remineralization.
Fronza et al. (Thu,) studied this question.