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

Objectives: To investigate the effect of oil pulling on the insitu remineralization of artificial incipient enamel lesions with the use of fluoride.Methods: Artificial white spot lesions were created on 32 human enamel slabs, mounted on appliances worn by 8 volunteers, each wearing 4 slabs, 2 on each side. Specimens were assigned into 2 groups according to oil pulling protocol, either with, or without oil pulling, then each group was further divided into 2 subgroups of 8 slabs each according to the remineralizing agent, either without (control), or with fluoride gel (Alpha-dent® Home care fluoride gel). Surface microhardness (SMH) of each slab was tested 4 times, sound, demineralized, and 1 week insitu using Vicker{u2019}s microhardness tester, and the percentage surface microhardness recovery (%SMHR) was calculated. Three Way ANOVA followed by Tukay{u2019}s post-hoc test were used for statistical analysis.Results: After 1 week insitu storage in fluoride group, the use of oil pulling resulted in significantly higher % microhardness recovery. Intervention were significantly higher than control.Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study it can be concluded that the use of oil pulling as an adjunctive, home-based remedy might provide a suitable environment for the remineralization process to occur.Clinical significance: The oil pulling procedure, being a safe and relatively easy procedure, can be used as a good home-based adjuvant to augment the action of remineralizing agents

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