IADR Abstract Archives
The Effect of Zinc on Enamel Remineralization
Objectives: To elucidate the effect of different concentrations of zinc on the remineralization process of early-stage demineralized enamel lesions in the presence of fluoride ion.![]()
Methods: Twenty-four bovine incisors were coated with nail varnish, excluding a planned region of demineralization (1×1 mm), and were soaked in a demineralization solution (2.2 mM CaCl2, 2.2 mM NaH2PO4, 0.05 M acetic acid, pH 4.4) in a 37°C incubator for 96 hours to prepare early-stage demineralized samples. Four groups, each containing six samples, were soaked separately in 4 different types of remineralization solutions (0.9 mM CaCl2・2H2O, 3 mM KH2PO4, 130 mM KCl, 20 mM HEPES, 0.68 mM sodium citrate, 10 ppm F, pH 7.1) mixed with zinc chloride to various zinc concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200 µM) in a 37°C incubator for 7 days. The QLF method was used before and after the treatments to assess the degree of remineralization, and ∆Q (%・Px) values were obtained, as a measure of the average degree of remineralization. Student’s t-test was performed for a statistical comparative analysis of each mean ∆Q value.![]()
Results: No statistically significant differences were detected in the ∆Q values before and after soaking in the remineralization solutions supplemented with either 0 µM or 50 µM zinc. In contrast, significant differences were observed in ∆Q in the groups treated with 100 or 200 µM zinc, with the latter showing significantly more remineralization.![]()
Conclusions: In the presence of fluoride ion, zinc was shown to have a positive effect on enamel remineralization, particularly at the highest zinc concentration tested.![]()
Methods: Twenty-four bovine incisors were coated with nail varnish, excluding a planned region of demineralization (1×1 mm), and were soaked in a demineralization solution (2.2 mM CaCl2, 2.2 mM NaH2PO4, 0.05 M acetic acid, pH 4.4) in a 37°C incubator for 96 hours to prepare early-stage demineralized samples. Four groups, each containing six samples, were soaked separately in 4 different types of remineralization solutions (0.9 mM CaCl2・2H2O, 3 mM KH2PO4, 130 mM KCl, 20 mM HEPES, 0.68 mM sodium citrate, 10 ppm F, pH 7.1) mixed with zinc chloride to various zinc concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200 µM) in a 37°C incubator for 7 days. The QLF method was used before and after the treatments to assess the degree of remineralization, and ∆Q (%・Px) values were obtained, as a measure of the average degree of remineralization. Student’s t-test was performed for a statistical comparative analysis of each mean ∆Q value.
Results: No statistically significant differences were detected in the ∆Q values before and after soaking in the remineralization solutions supplemented with either 0 µM or 50 µM zinc. In contrast, significant differences were observed in ∆Q in the groups treated with 100 or 200 µM zinc, with the latter showing significantly more remineralization.
Conclusions: In the presence of fluoride ion, zinc was shown to have a positive effect on enamel remineralization, particularly at the highest zinc concentration tested.
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