Varnishes with fluorides are standard tools in dental hygiene. But not all varnishes are created equal. According to a recent study, one varnish with casein phosphopeptide stabilized amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) in addition to fluoride outperformed its peers in inhibiting enamel demineralization.
The researchers examined Premier Dental’s Enamel Pro with amorphous calcium phosphate; 3M ESPE’s Clinpro White with functionalized tricalcium phosphate; GC America’s MI Varnish with CPP-ACP; Colgate’s Duraphat (first no added calcium control); VOCO’s Profluorid (second no added calcium control); and a placebo (no added calcium or fluoride control).
Next, the researchers cut 36 human enamel slabs in half and covered each half with one of the 6 varnishes to create a window. These half-slabs were individually immersed in a polyacrylate demineralization buffer pH 4.8 for 4 days at 37°C with a change of solution each day. Transverse microradiography was used to determine mineral content.
All of the varnishes with fluoride significantly inhibited enamel demineralization compared to the placebo varnish. Yet the researchers noted that MI Varnish, with fluoride and CPP-ACP, was superior to the others in protecting against enamel demineralization.
The study, “Effect of Calcium Phosphate Addition to Fluoride Containing Dental Varnishes on Enamel Demineralization,” was published by the Australian Dental Journal.
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