International Journal of Paediatric Dentistry, cilt.34, sa.3, ss.256-266, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)
Background: Mineralization-promoting peptide-3 (MPP3) is a new biomimetic remineralization agent. Aim: To assess the remineralization efficiency of MPP3, either alone or in combination with fluoride gel. Design: The samples were divided into four groups: control, 1.23% fluoride gel, 10% MPP3 gel, and 1.23% fluoride gel + 10% MPP3. Following the application of remineralization agents (4 min), the samples remained in a pH-cycling model (37°C, 4 weeks). Microhardness, microcomputed tomography (micro-CT), polarized light microscopy (PLM), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) analysis were conducted. RM-ANOVA, one-way ANOVA, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were used for statistical analysis, and a significance level of p <.05 was employed. Results: Mineralization-promoting peptide 3 and fluoride gel + MPP3 increased the microhardness of the enamel compared with initial values in each group (p <.05). Mineralization-promoting peptide 3 successfully maintained the mineral density of enamel, although the cariogenic pH-cycling and PLM results indicated that the lesion depth (μm) was significantly lower in the fluoride gel + MPP3 group (27.0336 ± 12.53650) than in the control group (37.3907 ± 12.76002, p <.05). Conclusion: The combined use of MPP3 with fluoride gel enhanced the caries-protective and mineralization-promoting effects of fluoride. Mineralization-promoting peptide 3 may be a potential agent that can be employed to improve the physical properties of enamel.