Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Oral and Dental Medicine - Department of Operative Dentistry

This research was designed to evaluate the remineralizing potential of three different calcium-phosphate based remineralizing agents. A total of sixty sound human molars free from any clinically visible abnormality were selected and used in this study used. Thirty molars were used for polarized light microscope evaluation and the other Thirty were used for surface microhardness testing. For polarized light microscope evaluation, each tooth was embedded vertically in custom made cuboid Teflon mold using acrylic resin until the level of cement- enamel junction. Molars was thoroughly covered by a layer of acid resistant nail varnish to limit the area of examination by leaving windows of 2{u00D7}2 mm on the enamel surface at middle third of the buccal surface, lingual surface, mesial surface and distal surface. For each molar the mesial surface acted as positive control, the distal surface was negative control, buccal surface was used to evaluate the remineralization potential following 15 days, while the lingual surface was used to evaluate the remineralization potential following 30 days. For surface microhardness testing, each tooth was embedded horizontally in rectangular acrylic resin mold with buccal surface facing upward. Buccal surfaces were polished using soflix discs. Molars were covered by a layer of acid resistant nail varnish to limit the area of examination by leaving windows 2{u00D7}8 that divided into 4 small windows 2{u00D7}2 on the enamel surface at the middle third of the buccal surface

Issued also as CD