Low‐Concentration Mineralization‐Promoting Peptide‐3–Containing Slurries Compared With Casein Phosphopeptide–Amorphous Calcium Phosphate on Demineralized Permanent Enamel: An Exploratory Ex Vivo Study
Rıza Mert Sahın, Cenkhan Bal, Ayse Mete, Mustafa Gungormus, Hilal Incıl, Doga Ekin Orhan, Nurgul Karadas BakırhanABSTRACT
Background
Casein phosphopeptide–amorphous calcium phosphate is a biomimetic remineralizing agent but is unsuitable for individuals with a milk‐protein allergy. This exploratory ex vivo study compared low‐concentration slurries containing mineralization‐promoting peptide‐3, sodium fluoride plus mineralization‐promoting peptide‐3, vehicle cream or casein phosphopeptide–amorphous calcium phosphate on demineralized enamel.
Methods
Forty‐eight permanent molars were randomly allocated to four groups. Formulations were applied as 0.1% weight/volume slurries once daily for 10 days after 28‐day pH cycling. Surface microhardness was measured at baseline, after demineralization and on Days 5 and 10. Micro‐computed tomography grey‐level units were assessed at baseline, after demineralization and on Day 5. Between‐group comparisons used surface microhardness change and percentage recovery.
Results
No significant between‐group differences were detected for surface microhardness change on Day 5 ( p = 0.126) or Day 10 ( p = 0.412), or for percentage recovery on Day 5 ( p = 0.543) or Day 10 ( p = 0.406). All groups showed significant recovery from post‐demineralization to Day 10. Grey‐level units increased descriptively in all groups by Day 5.
Conclusions
Under this low‐concentration model, all formulations produced partial surface microhardness recovery without evidence of differential efficacy. The findings are exploratory and do not demonstrate equivalence or clinical effectiveness.