Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of an experimental biomimetic mineralization kit (BIMIN) on the chemical composition and crystallinity of caries-free enamel and dentin samples in vitro. METHODS: Enamel and dentin samples from 20 human teeth (10 for enamel; 10 for dentin) were divided into a control group without treatment and test samples with BIMIN treatment. Quantitative analysis of tissue penetration of fluoride, phosphate, and calcium was performed using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Mineralization depth was measured by Raman spectroscopy probing the symmetric valence vibration near 960cm(-1) as a marker for crystallinity. EDX data was statistically analyzed using a paired t-test and Raman data was analyzed using the Student's t-test. RESULTS: EDX analysis demonstrated a penetration depth of fluoride of 4.10±3.32μm in enamel and 4.31±2.67μm in dentin. Calcium infiltrated into enamel 2.65±0.64μm and into dentin 5.58±1.63μm, while the penetration depths for phosphate were 4.83±2.81μm for enamel and 6.75±3.25μm for dentin. Further, up to 25μm of a newly mineralized enamel-like layer was observed on the surface of the samples. Raman concentration curves demonstrated an increased degree of mineralization up to 5-10μm into the dentin and enamel samples. SIGNIFICANCE: Biomimetic mineralization of enamel and dentin samples resulted in an increase of mineralization and a penetration of fluoride into enamel and dentin.