Erosive Effect of Pediatric Medications on Primary Enamel

Objectives: This study evaluated in vitro the erosive effect of 3 pediatric long-term relief syrups on enamel of primary teeth. Methods: Sixty sound exfoliated deciduous superior incisors were sectioned in order to expose the buccal surface and fixed in acrylic bases. The surfaces were flat and ground and the ensembles thooth/acrylic base were rendered waterproof by coating them with cosmetic nail varnish, leaving exposed a 2-mm area on the buccal surface, in which superficial Knoop microhardness measurements were performed (25gf, 30 sec and 3 indentations). The specimens were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n=15) according to the medications employed (Vick®-Mel Syrup - Guaifenesin; Sulferrol®- Ferrous Sulfate; Salbutamol Sulfate) and the control group (artificial saliva). The immersion cycles were performed during a 28-day period, under low agitation for 1 min, 3 times a day, with 6 hours interval, when specimens were kept in artificial saliva. The superficial microhardness measurements were performed after 7, 14, 21 and 28 days and the data were statistically analyzed. Scanning electron microscopy was performed after the 28-day of exposition in each solution. Results: The two-way ANOVA showed high significant interaction between medication and time (p<0.00001).The sum of squares decomposition and Tukey's test showed significant differences in superficial microhardness among the 3 medicaments as shown in Table 1. There was no significant difference until 21 days among the groups Control, Ferrous Sulfate and Guaifenesin. All the syrups evaluated reduced the final enamel microhardness after 28 days of exposition and the lowest microhardness value was Salbutamol Sulfate. Conclusion: The syrups of the reported study presented erosive effect on the enamel surface of primary teeth.