Effect of CPP-ACP paste on mechanical properties of bovine enamel as determined by an ultrasonic device

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Casein Phosphopeptide-Amorphous Calcium Phosphate (CPP-ACP) paste on demineralization of bovine enamel by measuring changes in the ultrasound transmission velocity. METHODS: The enamel specimens were prepared by cutting bovine teeth into blocks. The specimens were stored in 0.1 M lactic acid buffer solution (pH 4.75, Ca 0.75 mM, P 0.45 mM) for 10 min twice a day, and then stored in the artificial saliva (pH 7.0). Other specimens were stored in a 10-times diluted solution of CPP-ACP paste and a placebo paste without CPP-ACP for 10 min, followed by 10 min immersion into a demineralization solution twice a day before storage in the artificial saliva. The propagation time of longitudinal ultrasonic waves was measured by a Pulser-Receiver (Model 5900, Panametrics) with a transducer (V112, Panametrics). Six specimens were used for each condition, and one-way ANOVAs followed by the Tukey HSD tests (alpha = 0.05) were done. RESULTS: The sonic velocity was found to decrease with time for specimens stored in the demineralization solution. On the other hand, a significant increase in sonic velocity was found for specimens stored in the CPP-ACP solution. CONCLUSIONS: From the result of this study, it was suggested that the conditions of de- and remineralization of the enamel structure could be measured non-destructively by using an ultrasonic pulse method. It could be concluded that the inorganic components contained in high concentrations in CPP-ACP acted to enhance remineralization of the enamel structure.